“The battle for Bulgaria is being fought right now. The war is in an advanced phase—the fifth column is here, and all hybrid power is directed against us. Let us come together to reach the point of no return.” This statement was made by Evgeny Ivanov, Chief Executive Officer of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (KRIB), during the opening of the international forum “Business and Civil Society: Partners for a Better Environment,” held on November 21 at Sofia Tech Park.
The focus of the forum was on the joint efforts of business and civil society in Bulgaria to create a better social and economic environment and address attempts to undermine democracy with legislation that infringes upon fundamental freedoms in our country, contrary to international legal norms and the Bulgarian constitution. The occasion was the recent draft law proposed by “Revival” on November 11, concerning the registration of foreign agents.
The conference featured representatives from 10 Bulgarian and international employer and business associations, as well as 10 Bulgarian and international civil organizations, including the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (KRIB), the Bulgarian Banking Association, the Association for Innovation, Business Services and Technology (AIBEST), the American Chamber of Commerce, the Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, the Bulgarian Association for Equity and Venture Capital, the Bulgarian Entrepreneurship Association (BESCO), the Bulgarian Forum of Business Leaders, the German-Bulgarian Industrial and Commercial Chamber, the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Donors Forum, the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law, the European Association of Philanthropy Organizations (Philea), the National Youth Forum, the America for Bulgaria Foundation, the “Heroes of the Time” Foundation, the “Together in Class” Foundation, the Sofia Platform Foundation, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, and the Forum for Civil Participation.
“It would be much more satisfying for us to gather together to celebrate the success of our numerous joint initiatives. Instead, we are here to learn about the negative impact of the foreign agents law in neighboring countries and how concerned citizens can oppose it. This is a law that sows division. As many of you know, the past was turbulent when citizens tried to understand what freedom and democracy meant, how their lives would change, and how they would make a living. Despite the confusion and economic stress, there was an abundance of hope for a brighter future. Doors and borders opened, and opportunities seemed endless. It is hard to believe that 35 years later, there is a threat that doors will close and opportunities will disappear,” said Nancy Shiller, President of the America for Bulgaria Foundation.
“I can assure you that the impact of this proposal will reach far beyond these doors. The law will be felt by the entire society—whether you run a business, are a teacher, a medical professional, a volunteer, or a student,” she added. “Seven years ago, the America for Bulgaria Foundation partnered with many business leaders in this room to help furnish the children’s wards of Pirogov Hospital. What started as a small project focused on the reception area grew into the transformation of three floors covering 6,500 square meters for the benefit of Bulgarian children and families. Along with many Bulgarian companies, significant financial support came from international donors, including UniCredit Bank, IKEA, and AstraZeneca. Thousands of children and families have benefited from the Pirogov project. This would not have been possible if the foreign agents law had been in effect in 2017,” said Nancy Shiller.
“We want Bulgaria to continue providing opportunities for all its citizens—to feel free to express themselves, to work towards their dreams and ambitions, to be protected by the principles of the rule of law, and to be guided by our shared values—respect and dignity. To our friends from Georgia, Hungary, Russia, Germany, Poland, and Belgium, we thank you for sharing your experiences to help Bulgaria strengthen its resilience,” she further stated.
The draft law for the registration of foreign agents, submitted by Kostadin Kostadinov and Tsonzo Ganev, is the fourth attempt by “Revival” to import the Russian law enacted in 2012 into Bulgaria. This Russian law led to repressions, restrictions on freedom of speech, and the closure of media outlets and non-governmental organizations. The first attempt was lodged in parliament on October 27, 2022, but it did not reach the plenary hall. A second attempt, submitted on April 28, 2023, was discussed in the parliamentary hall on January 17 of this year. During its presentation, Kostadin Kostadinov claimed that their draft law is “almost one-to-one with the American law” and denied that it is a “copy of the Russian one.”
Fact-checking by a BNT team comparing the three texts—the “Revival” draft, the Russian law, and the American law—found the opposite. “Kostadin Kostadinov’s assertion that the draft law for foreign agents is almost identical to the American one is not true. The draft law more closely follows the spirit of the Russian law,” concluded the BNT team.
In recent days of the 50th National Assembly (on September 10, 2024), Kostadinov and six other deputies from “Revival” submitted the draft law for the third time, again without it reaching the plenary hall. The text submitted on November 11, 2024, is identical.
What does the “Revival” draft law propose?
Every Bulgarian citizen who receives at least 1,000 levs within a calendar year from foreigners, foreign companies, governments, foundations, non-profit organizations, and other foreign entities is required to declare this fact to the Ministry of Justice within 15 days.
The declaration must include the amount received, the date of receipt, the name and legal form of the foreign entity that is the source of the funding, and the reason for receiving it.
The Ministry of Justice will create a public register of individuals who have received funding from abroad, and it will be sent to the Registration Agency within 7 days, where the label “-foreign agent” will be added after their name.
Foreign agents include not only organizations but also all individuals working for them.
“Foreign agents” are prohibited from conducting any activities in kindergartens, schools, centers for personal development support, universities, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, as well as in the ministries of defense, interior, and justice.
They are banned from engaging in political activities and campaign advertising in any form, as well as any activities that may influence the internal or external policies of the country.
Every person listed in the register is required to add the phrase “foreign agent” with a dash after their name in all their publications or printed materials, including their business cards.
Foreign agents are subject to an annual financial audit. If a person does not declare themselves as such, a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 levs will be imposed, and for repeated violations, fines of 5,000 to 10,000 levs will follow. Subsequently, they will be officially registered as foreign agents. A notification will also be sent to the National Revenue Agency (NRA) requesting a tax audit of the respective individual.
