Freedom House: Crime, Corruption Still Plague Bulgaria

According to Freedom House, organized crime and corruption remain a serious issue in Bulgaria. File photo

Corruption, organized crime, the shadow economy, discrimination, lack of transparency and growing concentration of media ownership are listed as the top problems of Bulgaria in the annual Freedom House report.

Domestic violence and human trafficking are also noted as problems for the country.

Organized crime remains a serious issue in Bulgaria as a number of alleged deadly murder plots in the last decade have turned into cold cases, while new murders have been committed in 2012, according to the report.

Some notorious underworld figures have been arrested, but the number of effective sentences is insignificant, all while in 2012, the prosecutor's office failed to investigate evidence of the criminal past of then-Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.

Corruption is underscored as another serious problem, along with the shadow economy which forms about one third of the country's Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

For 2012, Bulgaria is ranked 75th by perception of corruption.

Freedom House have also established that the reforms of the judiciary have not lead to practical improvements of its efficiency and transparency.

Media freedom has also worsened slightly, compared to previous years, over political and economic pressure, and some foreign publishers leaving the local market.

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