MP Confirms 2nd Spying Case against Bulgarian Journalists

MP Ivan Kostov (left) has confirmed the existence of a second spying case at the National Security Agency that targeted Bulgarian journalists. Photo by BGNES

The existence of a second spying case such as the notorious one known as ‘Galeria’ has been confirmed.

The second case at Bulgaria’s State National Security Agency (DANS) which targeted leading Bulgarian journalists was confirmed Thursday by MP Ivan Kostov from the rightist Blue Coalition, who is the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee to control DANS.

“The spying case was in absolute violation of all rules – it has no code name. It was started at the Interior Ministry, and then was transferred on to the DANS,” explained Kostov who said last week there was evidence to suggest a second spying case against key journalists ran parallel to “Galeria”.

“The methods and ways of this spying case seem very similar to the ones employed by the former State Security (i.e. the secret police of communist Bulgaria – editor’s note). It contained the term “prevention conversations”, meaning that people have been summoned by the DANS agents to give explanations,” Ivan Kostov said.

Kostov said again that the case "Galeria" involved spying on Bulgarian journalists, holding conversations with them, and "advising" them without direct threats in order to persuade them against publishing certain information.

The DANS launched the “Galeria” case after classified information leaked to the website “opasnite.com”. The name of the website has been connected by some reports with journalist Ognyan Stefanov who was severely beaten by four unknown men in September 2008.

The “Galeria” case involved tapping the telephone conversations of journalists from almost all major media, as well as of some Members of Parliament.

Next week Kostov’s Parliamentary Committee is expected to come up with a position on the hearings it has conducted so far over the two spying cases that targeted journalists.

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