loading . . . Bulgaria taps Christo Grozev’s expertise to counter disinformation ahead of snap vote Investigative journalist Christo Grozev will give a hand to support his native Bulgaria’s efforts to counter disinformation and hybrid threats ahead of the country’s snap parliamentary elections, as authorities warn of intensified foreign interference and manipulation campaigns.
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov and Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynski held talks online with Grozev on the risks facing Bulgaria, including external influence, active measures, and coordinated disinformation. The journalist has been invited to assist a newly established mechanism within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at countering hybrid threats in the run-up to the vote, the Council of Ministers announced.
Grozev reportedly shared insights from his investigative work uncovering espionage networks and hybrid operations, including recent revelations about Russian agents operating within the European Union. He also referred to findings by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons indicating that Bulgarian arms dealer Emilian Gebrev was poisoned with a nerve agent from the “Novichok” group.
The Bulgarian authorities said the new mechanism is intended to provide a timely, structured, and integrated institutional response to hybrid threats, foreign interference, and information manipulation. Grozev agreed to contribute with information gathered over years of investigative work exposing malign influence and covert operations.
Christo Grozev is known for his work exposing espionage networks and covert operations linked to Russia. He gained international prominence through his investigations with Bellingcat, including identifying the operatives behind the 2018 poisoning of former Russian agent Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom using a Novichok nerve agent, as well as uncovering those responsible for the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Research he contributed to also underpinned the Oscar-winning documentary “Navalny”. In 2025, Grozev joined the Austrian-based media project “Jetzt”, where he works both as a reporter and as a mentor to young investigative journalists.
In December 2022, Grozev was placed on Russia’s wanted list, though the charges remain unclear. In early 2023, he announced he would not return to Austria, where he had lived for years, citing security concerns and alleging a significant presence of Russian agents and informants in Vienna.
Grozev has repeatedly warned that Bulgaria is a key target for Russian intelligence services, describing the country as a “soft target” with a high concentration of operatives. Speaking earlier before a parliamentary committee overseeing the intelligence services, he criticised the pace of investigations into explosions at Bulgarian military depots linked to earlier Bellingcat inquiries. According to him, Bulgarian authorities have downplayed possible involvement of Russia’s military intelligence agency GRU in communications with foreign partners, presenting incidents as safety violations rather than potential sabotage.
EU rapid response activated
Alongside domestic measures, Bulgaria has turned to the European Union for support. The country has requested technical and expert assistance from the European Commission and the EU’s external action service to counter disinformation and foreign interference ahead of the 19 April elections.
The request includes activation of the EU’s Rapid Alert System, a mechanism designed to support member states during election periods by identifying and responding to disinformation campaigns. Participation in the system is voluntary and includes major technology companies, non-governmental organisations, and fact-checking networks that work to detect and flag coordinated manipulation efforts.
The system was also activated recently in connection with Hungary’s parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 April, reflecting broader regional concerns over electoral interference.
Foreign ministry sets up coordination unit
Grozev will reportedly support the newly established mechanism at Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs with his expertise, contributing insights and information to help identify and expose malign influence. The structure became operational on 23 March, amid expectations of increased attempts to manipulate information, particularly on foreign policy issues, as part of broader efforts to counter disinformation and hybrid threats ahead of the elections.
The mechanism is headed by Ambassador-at-Large for resilience Maria Spasova, with oversight exercised by caretaker Deputy Foreign Minister Velizar Shalamanov. It will function as an internal working group, bringing together different units within the ministry to ensure coordinated monitoring, analysis, and response.
Among its key tasks are the centralised monitoring of disinformation and foreign interference, preparation of risk assessments, and drafting of analytical reports for the ministry’s leadership, including in relation to the organisation of voting abroad.
Authorities say the mechanism is designed to improve institutional coordination and communication in the face of hybrid threats, while also strengthening cooperation with international partners.
The government has underlined that the new structure will work closely with EU and NATO bodies, as well as with civil society organisations and academic experts. This broader cooperation framework is seen as essential to addressing complex hybrid threats that often cross national borders and involve multiple actors.
Earlier, the government also reported an increase in signals of potential electoral violations during the first briefing of the Coordination Council tasked with preparing the elections, adding to concerns about the integrity of the upcoming vote.
Caption: Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov and Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynski hold a video conference with investigative journalist Christo Grozev./Council of Ministers Press Service https://eualive.net/bulgaria-taps-christo-grozevs-expertise-to-counter-disinformation-ahead-of-snap-vote/
