H.E. Peter Stoyanov
President of Bulgaria
Sofia
Bulgaria

Vienna, 26 February 1998

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global media network represented in over 100 countries, is concerned about the move to take the satirical programme Hashove (Rebels) off the air.

We have been informed that the programme, which ran sketches parodying key members of the government, was officially taken off the air last week “due to irregularities in its sponsorship contract.” This decision, however, was made in the wake of a heated media debate as to whether Hashove undermined state authority.

IPI believes that plurality of published opinion must exist in a true democracy. Suppressing opposing views can only have negative repercussions for the society as a whole. We therefore urge you to launch an inquiry into the Hashove case to determine whether political factors played a part in the decision. Furthermore, we ask you to ensure that the public debate in Bulgaria is permitted to flourish.

I thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director