The Bulgarian investigative journalist Viktoria Marinova has been raped and killed. Her body was found on Saturday in a park in the town of Russe. The latest edition of her investigative programme was about a suspected fraud with EU funds. Sven Giegold, spokesperson for Bündnis 90/Die Grünen in the European Parliament commented:
„The cruel murder of Marinova concerns the whole of Europe. First Malta, then Slovakia, now Bulgaria: It is unacceptable that journalists are murdered again in Europe. The EU Parliament must now send an ad hoc delegation to Bulgaria. We need to find out quickly whether the murder is connected with Marinova’s research into the misuse of EU funds. A delegation from the EU Parliament should gather facts on the ground as quickly as possible. As in Malta and Slovakia, the European Parliament must take the lead in investigating the murder.
Freedom of the press is in acute danger in Europe if research into corruption ends in death. Journalism is the watchdog of democracy, not the lapdog of corrupt politicians. Bulgaria has a huge problem with corruption and financial crime. If the country wants to join the euro, it first needs far-reaching reforms.“