Independent investigation into abhorrent murder urgently needed
Bulgaria/Viktoria Marinova
On Saturday, Viktoria Marinova was brutally murdered in the Bulgarian city of Ruse. She had recently been reporting on corruption in EU funds involving top officials and major companies in Bulgaria. The Greens/EFA group demand an immediate and independent investigation into Marinova's death.
Ska Keller, Co-President of the Greens/EFA group comments:
"This abhorrent act, the third killing of a journalist in the EU in a year, should send shiver down the spine of anyone who values free speech and a democratic society. The Bulgarian authorities together with the aid of international experts must hold an in-depth and thorough investigation into the murder. Europe should be a safe space for journalists to do their vital work without fear."
Philippe Lamberts, Co-President of the Greens/EFA group comments:
"Something fundamentally isn't working in Europe if we have to rely on the fearless reporting of a handful of brave journalists to uncover corruption instead of the work of national authorities, at the potential expense of their own lives. The EU cannot continue to outsource the responsibility to monitor and police corruption in its own funds to countries with weak rule of law and a few journalists who are under extreme pressure and risk everything. OLAF must have a proper investigation into any possible fraud with EU money – not only in Bulgaria."
