Bulgaria’s parliament has set up a commission to investigate alleged influence by NGOs and companies linked to George Soros and his son, a move driven by pro-Russian, nationalist parties and by Delyan Peevski’s New Beginning. GERB lawmakers mostly abstained or voted against. Although presenting himself as pro-Western, Peevski has increasingly used anti-Soros conspiracy rhetoric common in Russian-aligned propaganda to target opponents and critical media. Human rights groups condemned the initiative, arguing it targets organisations working on democracy and anti-corruption. The decision comes amid other controversial efforts, including failed attempts to label such NGOs as “foreign agents,” a withdrawn bill threatening press freedom, and a 2024 amendment banning LGBTQ+ “propaganda” in schools. Read more here.
Source: Balkan Insight
