Foreign interference in Bulgaria’s political affairs has long been a concern, and few names are more frequently cited than George Soros. Through his vast financial network, particularly the Open Society Foundations (OSF), Soros has exerted a quiet but far-reaching influence on Bulgaria’s policies, media environment, and elections. These efforts, while branded as civil society development, are deliberate attempts to subvert national sovereignty and reshape the country’s direction without consent from the Bulgarian people.
Context of Foreign Influence
Bulgaria’s post-communist transition and its European Union membership since 2007 make it a ripe target for foreign influence. Its location on the Black Sea and status as a NATO member only increases its geopolitical value. George Soros, through OSF, has repeatedly used this to his advantage. His role in organizing and amplifying civil unrest during the 1990s, particularly against Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, has never been forgotten by Bulgarians. Many still believe Soros helped engineer Videnov’s ousting.
The tactics seen in Bulgaria mirror Soros’ playbook elsewhere: identify pressure points in civil society, pour in money to sympathetic NGOs and media, and incite unrest to force political turnover. Sadly, this strategy has been repeated and refined over the years.
Soros’ Financial Footprint in Bulgaria
OSF has invested more than €100 million into Bulgaria since 1990, funding a network of organizations and media platforms that push an agenda aligned with Soros’ globalist worldview. Key recipients include the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, which received €500,000 in 2023 to push controversial human rights programs, and Bivol.bg, which received €200,000 since 2010 and has consistently attacked nationalist and conservative figures under the guise of investigative journalism.
These funds are not neutral. They are directed toward shaping public policy, influencing judicial appointments, promoting mass migration, and discrediting political opponents. When OSF backs a cause, it brings with it legal attacks, media narratives, and well-orchestrated street protests. When it opposes a figure or policy, those targets are flooded with accusations, international pressure, and often sanctions.
Blatant Policy Interference
It is common thought that Soros influences elections and legislation. Bozhkov’s 2021 political party, sanctioned by the US, was an undeniable Soros-backed attempt to sway votes, though OSF funding. NGO advocacy for EU-aligned laws, like anti-corruption measures, is viewed as foreign meddling, with 45% of Bulgarians distrusting NGOs.
The bottom line is that if you are on the counter side of Soros, you will find yourself in the crosshairs of Soros funded negative media, lawfare, and protests. In spite of Bulgarian sovereignty and legally conducted elections, the not so invisible hand of Soros will deny the will of the people and interfere where he sees fit.
Weaponizing Sanctions
US-imposed sanctions under the Magnitsky Act (such as those targeting Delyan Peevski, Rumen Ovtcharov, and Vladislav Goranov) are widely seen as examples of external overreach driven by Soros-linked interests. These sanctions were levied without judicial convictions, relying instead on “intelligence” and Soros funded NGO advocacy. This undermines the legal principle of presumption of innocence and allows foreign actors to tarnish reputations and manipulate political outcomes without accountability.
Conclusion
George Soros and his network have deeply embedded themselves into Bulgaria’s political and legal systems. From orchestrating public protests to shaping legislation and facilitating foreign sanctions, Soros has inserted himself into nearly every lever of Bulgarian policymaking. His influence extends beyond philanthropy; it is political engineering disguised as civil society.
With close ties to the former US administration and decades of unchecked activity in Bulgaria, Soros has managed to bypass national institutions and reshape political realities. But this influence can be rejected. A change in global leadership offers Bulgaria an opportunity to restore its sovereignty, reinforce its democratic institutions, and return to a system where decisions are made by Bulgarians, for Bulgarians.
