Sofia
The Sofia office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is responsible for the activities of the Foundation in Bulgaria and North Macedonia. Our mission is to facilitate the promotion of the principles of liberal democracy, the rule of law, political pluralism, and free markets, in a collaborative partnership with local and international partners.
Our standard instruments include political education, policy support, and political dialogue, realised through regular events and publications.
News
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Prisoner of Conscience: Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russia
“Regime of murderers”, is the description Vladimir Kara-Murza gave in an interview for CNN Putin’s rule. After an attempted assassination, being investigated for high treason and labeled a “foreign agent”, the Russian political activist, historian, and journalist got arrested for “spreading false information about the invasion of Ukraine”. Discover the story of Vladimir Kara-Murza, prisoner of conscience from Russia.
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Think Freedom: Freedom is an Action
After the successful premiere in Sofia, the documentary portrait of Denitsa Lyubenova is storming the international film festivals. Starting on a national basis at the Sofia Pride Film Fest in Bulgaria, the documentary makes its way over the neighboring country North Macedonia all the way to Berlin, Germany and London, the UK. "Think Freedom: Freedom is an Action' tells the story of the human rights lawyer and activist Denitsa Lyubenova of the LGBTI organization Deystvie.
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Secret Charm - China´s Hidden Influence in Southeast Europe
This policy paper highlights a case study, which provides useful lessons learned as to Beijing's broader geopolitical and geo-economic objectives as well as the ambition to increase its economic leverage and political clout. The paper features case studies on China’s influence in eight countries in Southeast Europe, conducted by local experts. The authors assess China’s investments, its image and the appeal of its governance model in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.
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Strategic Rethinking: New NATO Strategic Concept and EU Strategic Compass
The main goal of the conference is to discuss the complexity of current risks and threats to the regional and global security, predominantly those arising from the Russian aggression against sovereign Ukraine. Keeping in mind the potential global dimensions of this war, the conference will also discuss possible responses to the Russian hybrid warfare against the democratic world, including weaponization of the energy supplies, propaganda, fake news, cyber-attacks and others. At the same time, it will take into consideration all other threats such as terrorism, migration, natural disasters, climate change and many others.
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Think Freedom: Freedom is an Action
The Premiere of the short documentary ‘Think Freedom: Freedom is an Action’ gathered more than 100 people on Friday, 17 June, in the Steps in Sofia, Bulgaria. The short documentary tells the story of Denitsa Lyubenova, a human rights lawyer and LGBTI activist. The film shows the process behind and the emotional journey of one of the most prominent legal battles. The screening of the film was followed by a discussion .
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"Freedom must be better armed than tyranny"
Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia, has become one of Europe's leading voices against Russia's war in Ukraine. She has been leading in getting the EU to take tougher action against Russia. She linked her 16th Berlin Freedom Speech with an appeal to formulate an even stronger European response to Putin's war.
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Bulgaria between the fight against corruption and the support for Ukraine
Russia's war in Ukraine will reorder the priorities of the Bulgarian government, although with a delay compared to other NATO and EU countries. Without a significant improvement in the state of internal security, with a focus on defense and intelligence, Bulgaria will suffer heavy losses from the war, and efforts at judicial reform and innovation will suffer.
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Премиера на Черната книга на правителственото разхищение в България за 2022 г
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Debate on Digitalization: There is a Basis for Fully Electronic Services, but Much Remains to Be Done
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#FreedomFightsFake: Media Literacy In Bulgaria - What have we learned from the crises
The keynote speech of Irina Nedeva from AEJ Bulgaria at the opening of the national conference “Media Literacy In Bulgaria - What have we learned from the crises” addresses the issues of disinformation and media literacy in Bulgaria. The conference is part of the global FNF’s campaign #FreedomFightsFake, which empowers citizens around the globe to think critically and “pre-bunk” disinformation.
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On the Path Towards The EU: Effective and Transparent Administration in Service for the Citizens
On 25th March 2020, the European Council adopted a decision to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia, a veteran EU candidate country of 16 years. As the opening negotiation chapters 23 and 24 cover the European fundamental principles and rights as well as the judiciary, the topic of ensuring effective and citizen-centric public services and good governance gradually evolves to a priority reform agenda.
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Next Level Participation: Citizen-driven e-Democracy Tools
In a time where trust in traditional ‘political actors’ is in decline; the digitalisation of democratic participation provides new opportunities for citizen engagement with politics. In this effort, citizens and citizen groups all over Europe have developed digital tools to enhance political participation through deliberation, transparency, and wider participation.
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Expressing Civil and Political Liberties in Times of Crisis
The lessons learnt from the first wave of the pandemic could provide a key as to how to adapt to the second wave. The manifold clashes of governments with their obligations to preserve individual rights and the critical public response, will surely lead to a more reasoned and citizen-oriented addressing of the issue in the future.
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Polarization is a lethal threat to democracy
Find the interview with Martin Kothé for for the Premiere of Black Book of Government Waste 2020 for the Bulgarian daily newspaper, Dnevnik. Again, we at FNF were able to compile 15 stories of inefficient or questionable spending of Bulgarian citizens’ money, including indications of corruption or conflicts of interest. By pointing out these cases, we invite Bulgarians to demand transparency and accountability from the authorities. We believe Bulgarians have a right to know how their money is spent, and the people’s money should create welfare.
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Black Book’s Media Coverage in bTV Show '120 Minutes'
Watch the TV interview of Martin Kothé about the premiere of the Black Book of Government Waste 2020 for the highly respectable political talkshow “120 Minutes” with the journalist, Svetoslav Ivanov in the biggest private TV channel, bTV. FNF has published so far 6 editions of the Black Book in Bulgaria. We remain committed to continuing this investigative project.
Social Media
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🇲🇰 Meet an AOH alumna, Violeta Zdravkovska, from North Macedonia. The time for women to lead in Europe has come. ♀ 💪 This is her time. And #SheWillBeHeard. AOH ignites her political ambition into real political power. AOH is an influential community of liberal women and their allies dedicated to ensuring women are in equal power and decision-making, that female leadership is valued, and that liberal women in European politics can thrive. 👏 The East Europe edition of The Alliance Of Her is organized by FNF East and Southeast Europe, in cooperation with ALDE Party – Liberals and Democrats for Europe . #allianceofher #aoh2022 #fnfesee #NorthMacedonia
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💡 “When I ask people to show me their strategy, most people often show me their to-do list.” shares Kivi Leroux Miller (USA), CEO of Nonprofit Marketing Guide. Learn how to properly craft an effective mission-driven marketing strategy and tactics plan from Kivi, a consultant, award-winning book author, and trainer with years-long specialized experience from the USA in helping NGOs excel in their communications and mentoring marketers to reach new professional heights. Don't miss out on the dose of inspiration and valuable tips from the iberal Communicators Network (LCN) - Non-Profit Academy 2022 👉 http://bit.ly/3TJRGVD 🤩 If you want to learn first-hand from Kivi Leroux Miller and other thought leaders, do apply for LCN by 4 April 👉 http://bit.ly/3Jd79Zh You would join a professional network of liberal mission-driven marketers in Europe. 💡 The Academy empowers liberal communicators to adapt cutting-edge communication strategies, innovation, and marketing trends for the specific context of the mission-driven sector. Do not miss the chance to learn from thought leaders and world-class trainers such as: ✔️ Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman, Ogilvy UK; TED Global Speaker with millions of views; Best-Selling Author of “Alchemy” Ogilvy UK ✔️ Kivi Leroux Miller (USA), CEO of Nonprofit Marketing Guide Nonprofit Marketing Guide , Award-winning Author of “Content Marketing for Nonprofits” Nonprofit Marketing Guide ✔️ Farra Trompeter (USA), Co-Director, Member-Owner, Big Duck The LCN Academy ‘Make a Good Message Better’ offers: ✔️ a series of webinars and online workshops in non-profit brand management, communications strategy, digital and content marketing, behavioral science, advertising, and more ✔️ 11 online sessions from 2 May- 15 June 2023 ✔️ Membership in a professional community- Liberal Communicators Network 🔜 Get more info and apply by 4 April 👉 bit.ly/3JBLlYI 👏 The Academy is organized by the European Liberal Forum, in cooperation with FNF East and Southeast Europe. LCN is an umbrella cooperation programme among the abovementioned organizations and our partners from the European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) and Projekt: Polska . #ELFEvent #fnfesee #liberalcommunicatorsnetwork #lcn2023
