OSCE Representative urges Bulgaria to prosecute attackers of journalists, warns against changes to law on information

VIENNA, 23 March 2007 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, voiced concern today over the assault on journalists of 24 Hours and 168 Hours newspapers by parliamentarians of the Ataka political party.

He also warned the authorities against restrictive draft amendments to the country's progressive information legislation.

"The OSCE commitment to provide safe working environment for journalists requires that those who intimidate and insult media workers are brought to justice regardless of their public functions," wrote Haraszti in a letter addressed, among other officials, to the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament and the Prosecutor General.

"I find it worrisome that the leaders of the Ataka party who entered the premises of the two newspapers and intimidated journalists are treated as mere witnesses and not as the accused."

The OSCE Representative also criticized the restrictive draft amendments to the Access to Public Information Act introduced by members of three different parliamentary groups on 28 February.

"The proposed amendments would restrict society's right to access information, endangering ten years of efforts by the civil society and the Government, aimed to strengthen freedom of information in Bulgaria," said Haraszti.

The motion would oblige requesters to prove their legal interest in the information, increase the allowed time frame of response, and also raise the fees for such requests.

Haraszti said he was confident that the well-established media community and the Parliament of Bulgaria would reject the draft.