Bulgaria warns of disinformation surge before 19 April vote

Disinformation campaigns aimed at influencing voters are expected to intensify ahead of Bulgaria’s parliamentary elections on 19 April, acting Deputy Foreign Minister Velizar Shalamanov has said.

Speaking to Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), Mr Shalamanov said authorities are working to identify and counter narratives that could undermine the vote and affect the country’s foreign policy.

He noted that the wider geopolitical context — including two nearby wars — requires increased vigilance.

“Our main priority is to safeguard the elections from manipulated information and illegitimate foreign influence,” he said.

Mr Shalamanov said current efforts appear aimed at eroding trust in institutions, warning that such activity often escalates shortly before elections.

“At the moment, the narratives are aimed at building mistrust in institutions. ... Based on the experience of other European countries, we expect that in the final days before the elections, already established influence networks, bots, and advertising networks will suddenly become active, shifting to political content. The narratives emerge as a result of the other side’s analysis of what would divide the nation. ... In the past, these narratives have mainly come from Moscow," he said.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov

Edited and posted in English by E. Radkova