{"id":25460,"date":"2015-01-21T10:02:19","date_gmt":"2015-01-21T10:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/?p=25460"},"modified":"2015-01-21T18:00:34","modified_gmt":"2015-01-21T18:00:34","slug":"they-tried-to-eliminate-me-twice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/they-tried-to-eliminate-me-twice.html","title":{"rendered":"“They Tried to Eliminate Me Twice”"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Swiss newspaper Klartext<\/em> quoted Bivol\u2019s Director Assen Yordanov in an article dedicated to media freedom in Bulgaria titled “Under the Grip of Oligarchs\u201d.<\/p>\n

Bulgaria is ranked last in the EU by freedom of press, reminds the author of the report from Sofia, Gilles Labarthe. Another reality lurks behind the numerous publications on newsstands, creating an illusion of pluralism. \u201cMedia work in an environment of corruption and dark dependencies. PR has replaced journalism and the publications no longer work in the interest of citizens, but in the interest of those who pay,\u201d this is how the management of Darik Radio summed up the situation.<\/p>\n

“The permanent collusion between media, politics, and the clique of oligarchs, some believed to be connected to organized crime, the heirs of the communist period who returned to the political scene in the role of business-swindlers is one of the reasons for the protests in 2013,” commented Antoine Hery from Reporters without Borders<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a disaster!\u201d says Assen Yordanov, who survived the communist period and its collapse. He began his career in journalism at the age of 22, in his hometown of Burgas on the Black Sea coast, initially as correspondent of major newspapers in the capital Sofia. His first investigations came fast. The most significant one – eight pages in the then-Standart<\/em> in the smuggling of cigarettes, oil and precious metals – implicated corrupt Customs officials. “It cost me many police interrogations, house arrest and death threats.”<\/p>\n

He did not give up and continued with his investigations, despite pressure from organized crime circles, much more direct and difficult to bear in the countryside than in Sofia. “My life was a gamble. I managed to mend two attacks aimed at eliminating me. During my three years of military service, I was a martial arts instructor and it helps.”<\/p>\n

After Bulgarian media closed the door to his investigations, Assen Yordanov continued to work, but on the Internet. “I created with a colleague the site Bivol.bg at the end of 2010. Then I faced total surveillance, particularly after the contract that we signed with Julian Assange for partnership with WikiLeaks. We had to strengthen security and to encrypt our communications in order to protect our sources.\u201d Bivol.bg is entirely funded by private donations and advertising. The site publishes online investigations based on confidentially obtained documents. This was an experiment that continued with the creation of Balkanleaks, together with Atanas Tchobanov. Under certain conditions – protection of sources and guaranteed anonymity – Internet may offer a space for expression, dedicated to investigative journalism. But Bulgarian press does not respond by supporting and publishing these investigations. Assen Yordanov concludes with the following warning: \u201cOligarchs learned brilliantly to speak the language of the EU and to grasp funding from the West, including, as ironic as this is, funds set up twenty years ago to support democracy through diversification of the press and the training of journalists.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Some funding, such as the one from the Soros Foundation, went into the wrong pockets. This also explains why, despite so much support from the West, quality and freedom of the press are not on the rise. In the first years after the fall of the Communist regime, there was an improvement. But I think that the current situation is worse than ten years ago,” he regrets in principle. And it is better in Albania.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Swiss newspaper Klartext quoted Bivol\u2019s Director Assen Yordanov in an article dedicated to media freedom in Bulgaria titled “Under the Grip of Oligarchs\u201d. 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As revealed by The New York Times, last year she traveled to Rome for an event at the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Investigations"","block_context":{"text":"Investigations","link":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/category\/investigations-en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/louvrier-gabbard.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/louvrier-gabbard.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/louvrier-gabbard.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/louvrier-gabbard.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/louvrier-gabbard.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":103336,"url":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/update-hal-billion-social-ministry.html","url_meta":{"origin":25460,"position":1},"title":"UPDATE: OVER 0.5 BLN BGN OF EU FUNDS EMBEZZLED THROUGH SOCIAL MINISTRY","author":"\u041d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0430\u0439 \u041c\u0430\u0440\u0447\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e","date":"30 March 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Financial abuse valued at a couple hundred million euro have been exposed at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. The embezzlement is primarily tied to funds from different European Union programs awarded under the law for public procurement. The procedures, however, were conducted in gross violation of the law.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Investigations"","block_context":{"text":"Investigations","link":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/category\/investigations-en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-2023-03-30-%D0%B2-17.40.52.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-2023-03-30-%D0%B2-17.40.52.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-2023-03-30-%D0%B2-17.40.52.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-2023-03-30-%D0%B2-17.40.52.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-2023-03-30-%D0%B2-17.40.52.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-2023-03-30-%D0%B2-17.40.52.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38553,"url":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/le-monde-bulgaria-is-most-striking-example-of-lack-of-media-freedom-in-europe.html","url_meta":{"origin":25460,"position":2},"title":"Le Monde: Bulgaria Is Most Striking Example of Lack of Media Freedom in Europe","author":"\u0415\u043a\u0438\u043f \u043d\u0430 \u0411\u0438\u0432\u043e\u043b\u044a","date":"10 March 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The 109th place of Bulgaria in the Reporters Without Borders' Freedom of the Press ranking is strongly emphasized in the analysis of the alarming decline of media freedom in Central and Eastern Europe by the French daily newspaper Le Monde. The reason - oligarch Delyan Peevski has bought 80% of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Analysis"","block_context":{"text":"Analysis","link":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/category\/analysis-en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/le-monde-bg-109.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/le-monde-bg-109.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/le-monde-bg-109.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/le-monde-bg-109.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31434,"url":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/reporters-without-borders-latest-report-media-when-oligarchs-go-shopping-peevski-is-swinging-media-baseball-bats.html","url_meta":{"origin":25460,"position":3},"title":"Reporters Without Borders Latest Report: Media, When Oligarchs Go Shopping; Peevski Is Swinging Media Baseball Bats","author":"\u0415\u043a\u0438\u043f \u043d\u0430 \u0411\u0438\u0432\u043e\u043b\u044a","date":"22 July 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Controversial Bulgarian lawmaker and businessman Delyan Peevski and his \"media baseball bats\" are cited in an extensive report of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) as an important example of how oligarchs are conquering the media. The sulked face of the \"successful young man\" is even gracing the front page of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Comments"","block_context":{"text":"Comments","link":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/category\/comments-en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/media-oligarchs-peevski.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/media-oligarchs-peevski.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/media-oligarchs-peevski.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/media-oligarchs-peevski.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/media-oligarchs-peevski.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/media-oligarchs-peevski.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33478,"url":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wiener-zeitung-land-in-oligarchs-hand.html","url_meta":{"origin":25460,"position":4},"title":"Wiener Zeitung: Land in Oligarch\u2019s Hand","author":"\u0415\u043a\u0438\u043f \u043d\u0430 \u0411\u0438\u0432\u043e\u043b\u044a","date":"30 March 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Extensive interview with Assen Yordanov, founder and Director of Bivol, with the prestigious Austrian newspaper Wiener Zeitung on: - Mafia reality in Bulgaria - Bivol\u2019s mission - Cost of defending the right to free and quality journalism in the most corrupt and undemocratic country in Europe. The interview was taken\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Analysis"","block_context":{"text":"Analysis","link":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/category\/analysis-en"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/borisov-peevski.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/borisov-peevski.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/borisov-peevski.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28274,"url":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/reporters-without-borders-and-network-for-free-speech-condemn-smear-campaign-against-bivol.html","url_meta":{"origin":25460,"position":5},"title":"Reporters Without Borders and Network for Free Speech Condemn Smear Campaign against Bivol","author":"\u0415\u043a\u0438\u043f \u043d\u0430 \u0411\u0438\u0432\u043e\u043b\u044a","date":"15 October 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Smear campaign against investigative journalist Reporters Without Borders has issued a statement deploring the recent smear attacks on Bivol and its staff by controlled Bulgarian media. \u201cReporters Without Borders condemns a smear campaign against Atanas Chobanov, the editor of the investigative new website Bivol.bg, and expresses its support and sympathy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Freedom of speech"","block_context":{"text":"Freedom of speech","link":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/category\/b-files-en\/b-mediafreedom-english"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/rsf-bivol-support.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/rsf-bivol-support.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/rsf-bivol-support.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Screen-Shot-2015-01-26-at-21.07.37.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25460"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25460\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bivol.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}