Bulgaria's TV7 Will Not Stop Broadcasting

Citizens and TV7 journalists are gathering in front of the TV station's headquarters in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 07, 2015. Photo by BGNES

As many as 15 porters have entered the headquarters of private national TV7 in Sofia, Bulgaria, to collect equipment after a week-long deadline of debt payment has expired.

Meanwhile, the TV station's management and bailiff Nedelcho Mitev have reached an agreement that TV7 will not stop broadcasting for now, and that only part of the equipment will be taken away that could not prevent it from airing its channels, TV7 and News7.

Last week a scandal broke after a bailiff tried to take away TV7's server and thereby switching it off.

The TV station's equipment had been placed  as a bank loan collateral, with the channel having a long-standing loan to collapsed Corporate Commercial Bank.

TV7 management officials argue they have been seeking to repay the loan they owe to KTB but assignees have systematically rejected that.

A massive police presence sparked outrage from citizens and journalists, and Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov requested a week-long deadline for TV7 to repay.

Tens of people have gathered in front of TV7 in a show of solidarity with journalists and staff, according to reports of the BGNES news agency.

According to the Interior Ministry, police is to be deployed to assist the bailiff.

Also on Thursday morning, the Bulgarian Deposits Insurance Fund (BDIF) announced the loan of TV7 was below BGN 2.5 M and that only part of the equipment had been placed as a collateral.

He also said the channel had until June 20 to pay off.

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