Roma ‘intimidation’ in Bulgarian presidentials as Iliana Iotova’s win raises alarm bells for press freedom

Iliana Iotova's recent presidential victory in Bulgaria has raised concerns about voter intimidation, particularly among the Roma community, and the state of media freedom. Her win, with 57.6% of the votes, reflects a pro-Russian shift following the success of Rumen Radev's party. Analysts note that voter turnout was notably low, especially among Roma, due to reported police intimidation at polling stations. Critics argue that the lack of political engagement with Roma issues has led to significant abstention rates. Additionally, concerns have been voiced regarding the relationship between the government and media, potentially impacting press freedom in the country.