A Bulgarian journalist Viktoria Marinova was on Saturday raped and killed for her reportage on alleged corruption linked to European Union.
Reuters reports that authorities said the 30-year-old was found dead in a park in Ruse, along the border of Romania.
Bulgarian interior minister Mladen Marinov has however denied reports that Marinova’s murder was linked to her reporting.
“It is about rape and murder,” Marinov is quoted as saying.
Marinova had worked at the Ruse-based TV station TVN as a reporter.
She has been interviewing investigative journalists about alleged corruption between businessmen and politicians involving EU funds.
A reporter from TVN is quoted by AFP as saying “We are in shock. In no way, under any form, never have we received any threats – aimed at her or the television.”
The owner of the investigative website, bivol.bg, has told AFP that there have been threats directed at his reporters.
“Viktoria’s death, the brutal manner in which she was killed, is an execution,” Yordanov said. “It was meant to serve as an example, something like a warning.”
Bulgaria ranks lower than other EU member in the world press freedom index.
Source: Africafeeds.com
