SEEMO Concerned over Threatened Bulgarian Journalist

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) has expressed its concern over the latest threat against Bulgarian investigative journalist Lidia Pavlova.

Pavlova, who has exposed the criminal activities of the so-called "Galevi brothers," a pair of mafia bosses and benefactors at the small and impoverished town of Dupnitsa, has been the subject of a number of threatening incidents in recent years.

Last week, a car owned by Pavlova's 22-year-old son, Ivan Pavlov, was set on fire.

The incident marked the second time her family car has been destroyed, SEEMO has reminded. Ivan Pavlov was badly beaten in 2008 and 2010.

"I am very concerned for Pavlova's safety," SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic has said in a statement. He has added that a SEEMO delegation met Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, raising concerns regarding the journalist's safety.

"The minister said he believed that another incident with Lidia Pavlova would not happen due to the high-profile nature of the trial against the Galevi brothers. I do hope that Minister Tsvetanov can offer protection to Pavlova and guarantee her safety," Vujovic has pointed out.

Angel Hristov and Plamen Galev aka the "Galevi brothers" are still missing after they disappeared at the beginning of May after the Bulgarian Supreme Court of Cassation finally confirmed their organized crime sentences. The two were supposed to be sent to jail for 5 and 4 years respectively.

Speaking in an interview for Novinite.com at the end of 2010, right after Galevi brothers were acquitted of charges for leading an organized crime group, Lidia Pavlova said she fears for her life.

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