Investigative Reporters Expose Corruption in Bulgaria
“Na Chisto” can be translated as “to come clean,” an apt title for a USAID-funded Bulgarian television program that since 2003 has been investigating allegations of corruption in the public sector.
Over 2 million viewers have tuned in since the show, produced by the Broadcast Training Center ProMedia Foundation, was first launched. Na Chisto currently has a 22-25 percent market share of the national television audience and airs at midday on Sunday on one of the major national networks, Nova TV. Approximately 400,000 people view each episode.
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Na Chisto anchor Daniela Trencheva (right) interviewing a guest on the
latest corruption investigation
Photo Credit: Pro Media |
Since its inception, the program has increased public awareness about corruption and resulted in concrete actions against corrupt officials. The parliamentary committee on anti-corruption and several city councils have reviewed several cases brought to light on the program. Before the 2005 parliamentary elections, Na Chisto exposed illegal jamming of the only local opposition radio station in northeastern Bulgaria, prompting intervention by local law enforcement authorities in the city of Dulovo. With the information gained from the “Na Chisto” investigation, the jamming device was found on the roof of the mayor’s office; investigation into the incident is ongoing. That same year, the director of the Bulgarian postal service was fired after the program exposed his breach of the public procurement act by favoring a private security company. Na Chisto also helped to break a trafficking ring exposing a scheme for selling Roma babies in Greece and uncovered illegal activity and inhumane living conditions within the Bulgarian prison system.
Corruption among university officials has also come under “Na Chisto” scrutiny. In 2003, charges were brought against the president of the University of Veliko Tarnovo after journalists discovered that he was involved in establishing illegal educational centers across Bulgaria through his own private companies. The following year, the show revealed that the President of Burgas University received political support for an illegal re-election in exchange for advanced degree diplomas issued to government officials. He was fired and the evidence gathered by “Na Chisto” was used to bring charges against him.
While corruption remains a serious problem in Bulgaria, “Na Chisto” has helped build popular support for transparency and accountability within public institutions.
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