Bulgaria seeks EU assistance to combat Russian interference ahead of elections

Bulgaria has requested the help of the European Union to combat Russian interference in the context of the parliamentary elections scheduled for the end of this month. Bulgarian officials have asked the EU's diplomatic service to identify and stop campaigns of public opinion manipulation through social media and propaganda websites. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia has established a temporary unit, led by investigative journalist Christo Grozev, to coordinate the response to these interferences. A report from the Bulgarian Center for the Study of Democracy highlighted Bulgaria's vulnerability to informational manipulation, warning about active Russian networks. The government has requested the activation of the EU's rapid response system to collaborate with social media platforms in identifying disinformation campaigns. This request reflects a change in attitude, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs becoming more sensitive to the issue of external interference. The European External Action Service (EEAS) is ready to support Bulgaria in the fight against disinformation, using FIMI tools to coordinate responses and publicly denounce foreign adversaries involved in interference.