NY Times: Several Oligarchs Control Media Companies in Bulgaria

Bulgaria, the country ranking last among EU nations in terms of press freedom, has a media landscape controlled by "several oligarchs", the New York Times wrote on Thursday.

In an article titled "Oligarchs of Eastern Europe Scoop Up Stakes in Media Companies", the US newspaper points to the fact that the New Bulgarian Media Group of Delyan Peevski (incorrectly dubbed "a former lawmaker", since he is also in the recently elected Parliament) "has been closely linked to governments controlled by several parties"

NY Times describes the group as "ostensibly controlled by his mother, though opponents charge that he holds the real power."

At the core of the article, which does not focus on Bulgaria, comes the argument that "local oligarchs and investment groups - some directly connected to their countries' political leadership - are snapping up newspapers and other media companies".

Citing an example of a recent deal in Slovakia involving the purchase of a stake of the "last serious, independent newspaper" from a "well-connected investment group", the text goes on with other cases across the region to illustrate the deteriorating situation on the media landscape, with many outlets sinking in press freedom rankings.

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