Bulgaria is bracing for an increase in disinformation activity in the run-up to the parliamentary elections on April 19, with authorities warning of coordinated attempts to influence voters and destabilize public trust. Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Velizar Shalamanov said institutions are already monitoring emerging narratives that could interfere with the electoral process and potentially impact the country’s foreign policy direction.

Speaking to BNR, Shalamanov emphasized that the current international environment adds an extra layer of risk, pointing to ongoing conflicts in the region that heighten the need for vigilance. He underlined that the primary objective is to protect the integrity of the vote, stating that “our main priority is to safeguard the elections from manipulated information and illegitimate foreign influence.”

According to him, early signs indicate that the focus of such campaigns is on weakening confidence in state institutions. He warned that this type of activity typically intensifies in the final days before an election, following patterns observed in other European countries. “At the moment, the narratives are aimed at building mistrust in institutions,” he said, adding that influence networks, bots and coordinated advertising efforts are expected to become more visible as the vote approaches.

Shalamanov also noted that such narratives are not random, but are shaped by analysis designed to exploit divisions within society. He pointed out that in previous cases, similar disinformation efforts have largely originated from Moscow, suggesting a continuation of established methods aimed at influencing political processes in the region.

Source: BNR