Czech Republic Exposes Russian Influence Network Operating Across Europe, Including Bulgaria
The Czech Republic has revealed the dismantling of a vast network of Russian influence spanning across Europe, with Bulgaria among its targeted countries
HOT: » Assessing the Legacy of Bulgaria's "Denkov" Cabinet: Achievements, Failures, and What Comes Next
Votes are being counted in the Czech Republic's presidential election, the first time the role has been decided by direct popular vote.
Former Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman was leading Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg in the second round, with 30% of votes counted.
Before polls closed at 13:00 GMT, people braved freezing conditions to vote in the nail-bitingly close poll.
Zeman was ahead by 59% to 41%, with a third of votes counted.
The former prime minister gained 24.2% in the first round, with Mr Schwarzenberg winning 23.4%.
"It'll be very tight," Schwarzenberg said after casting his ballot in the small village of Sykorice, south-west of Prague.
"I'm not nervous, far from it, I'm calm, we'll see," he added.
Zeman said he had said all he wanted to say.
"Now it's the turn of citizens," he added.
Correspondents in Prague have stressed that Czechs had to choose between two very different candidates - Zeman, the acerbic former Social Democrat prime minister, and Karel Schwarzenberg, the elderly, aristocratic foreign minister.
Zeman is a hard-drinking, chain-smoking politician, known for his witty put-downs of his political opponents while Schwarzenberg is a titled prince, 75 years old but wildly popularly amongst young, urban voters, BBC correspondent said.
In the early 1990s, Schwarzenberg worked as chancellor to the President Vaclav Havel, the leader of the Velvet Revolution that brought down Communist rule in 1989.
The new president will represent the Czech Republic abroad and appoint candidates to the constitutional court and the central bank, but does not carry much day-to-day power.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Ukrainian military intelligence has accused Russian intelligence services of having prior knowledge about the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert hall near Moscow
Israeli military operations against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza City's Shifa Hospital and Khan Yunis continued, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
The Czech Republic has revealed the dismantling of a vast network of Russian influence spanning across Europe, with Bulgaria among its targeted countries
Amidst reports linking the messaging app Telegram to the recruitment of gunmen involved in a recent attack near Moscow, the Kremlin has issued a warning to the app's owner, Pavel Durov
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia has no intention of attacking NATO countries such as Poland, the Baltic states, or the Czech Republic
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a meeting with the White House to discuss an upcoming ground operation in Rafah, situated in the southern part of the Gaza Strip
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022