Top Bulgarian TV Host Sentenced for Insulting Nationalist Leader

Bulgaria's popular Bulgarian showman and TV celebrity, Slavi Trifonov, has been often accused of using his evening talk show for political propaganda. Photo by bTV

Bulgaria's popular late night show host, Slavi Trifonov, has been sentenced by the Sofia City Court, SCC, to pay BGN 45 000 in damages to the leader of the far-right, nationalist Ataka party, Volen Siderov.

The sentence is on charges of slander and two insults against Siderov, stated by the showman in his Slavi's Show" on June 23rd and 27th, 2005. Trifonov also has to pay interest and the Court's expenses.

He had been sentenced for announcing during the show that Siderov had said the words "Let's use Roma to make soap." Despite the defendant's explanations that he had heart personally Siderov saying the above on TV, the magistrates pointed out there was no evidence and Trifnov's claim can be considered slander under the Penal Code.

The Court further established, by watching tapes of the "Slavi's Show" that the host has insulted the nationalist by calling him fascist and fuehrer and rejected Trifonov's explanations this had been "political metaphor."

The showman's claims he was not responsible because the script writers have made a collage comparing Siderov to Hitler, also deemed an insult, was rejected as well.

The magistrates further did not accept the argument about freedom of speech by pointing out the latter should not harm another person and tarnish his or her image.

Two years ago Siderov won another court case, against sociology expert, Andery Raychev, once again over Raychev calling him fascist.

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