The only Bulgarian media correspondent in Russia has been told to leave the country

BNR: The expulsion of Angel Grigorov from Russia is a purely political act and is detrimental to the freedom of access to information

published on 11/3/23 9:31 PM

Photo: Private archive

Russia has ordered the correspondent of the Bulgarian National Radio in Moscow, Angel Grigorov, to leave the country in response to the decision of the Bulgarian authorities to expel from Bulgaria the correspondent of the state-owned Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, Alexander Gatsak.

A message on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry says that our colleague has been told to hand over his accreditation documents as a "reciprocal measure" in response to the "persecution" of Gatsak by Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security which has declared him "a threat to national security".

"Guided by the principles of media freedom and pragmatic cooperation, the Russian side will be ready to consider the possibility of resuming the work of the BNR correspondent in Moscow if the Bulgarian government takes a positive decision to accredit the journalist of Rossiyskaya Gazeta in Sofia," the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry further reads.

Today, Angel Grigorov has been notified of the decision by an employee of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The person who contacts me on all important matters. On November 7, Tuesday, I have to hand over my credentials in person at the building of the Russian Foreign Ministry. It is not yet clear by what date I have to leave the territory of the Russian Federation. I guess that I will be informed at the meeting on Tuesday," Grigorov explained to BNR. He added that from today he has no right to perform his functions as a correspondent of BNR.

The Bulgarian National Radio issued a statement regarding the revocation of the accreditation and the expulsion from the Russian Federation of the correspondent of the public-service media Angel Grigorov, in which it states:

"The management of the Bulgarian National Radio categorically states that in all his work as a correspondent in Moscow for more than 6 years, our colleague Angel Grigorov has strictly observed international professional and ethical journalistic standards.

The expulsion from Russia of the only Bulgarian media correspondent is a purely political act and is detrimental to the freedom of access to information. BNR is disappointed by the attempt to use the accreditation of our correspondent in Moscow as a tool for pressure and a bargaining chip on the part of the Russian side."

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