Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 15.12.2025
The team of Access to Information Programme wishes you health and successful initiatives in 2026!
Celebrating the International Day for Universal Access to Information with a UNESCO Conference in Manila 06.10.2025
This year, the international conference celebrating September 28 – the International Right-to-Know Day, recognized byUNESCO in 2015 and by the United Nations in 2019 as International Day for Universal Access to Information, was held in Manila, the Philippines.
23rd Awards Ceremony for the International Right to Know Day – 28 September 2025 03.10.2025
Access to Information Programme presents its annual awards for contributions in the field of freedom of information to celebrate the International Right to Know Day.
Episode 21 of the Video Podcast Cases and Democracy: Access to Information, Investigations, and SLAPP – the Host Alexander Kashumov, AIP, Speaks with the Investigative Journalist Dimitar Stoyanov, Bird.bg 07.08.2025
We present to you Episode 21 of the Video Podcast Cases and Democracy: Access to Information, Investigations, and SLAPP – the Host Alexander Kashumov, Access to Information Programme Speaks with the Investigative Journalist Dimitar Stoyanov, Bird.bg. It is the highest-viewed episode this season.
The Court Repealed the Prosecution’s Refusal to Provide Access to Information about Investigations against the Prosecutor General 22.07.2025
The Administrative Court of Sofia-City repealed a decision by a Deputy Prosecutor General at the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, which denied access to public information.
AIP opened the Call for Nominations for the Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony to be held on September 28, 2025 in Bulgaria 22.07.2025
The Access to Information Programme opened the Call for Nominations for the Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony to be held on September 28, 2025 in Bulgaria. The Right to Know Day is the strongest tool in the AIP campaign for encouraging the exercise of the right to information and pushing for enhanced government transparency and accountability.
"The Citizens' Law" Turns 25 11.07.2025
The Access to Public Information Act (APIA) turned 25 on July 7, 2025. Among those who use it to obtain copies of documents and other information from public institutions, it is known as "The Citizens' Law." Every year, between 10,000 and 15,000 people submit requests for access to public information—by email, on paper, or orally.
ECHR found restricted access to court judgments violates Article 10 of the Human Rights Convention 11.07.2025
On June 2025 the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgment in Girginova v. Bulgaria became final. The Court found a violation of Article 10 and Article 13 of the Convention out of a denial to disclose the reasoning of a national court decision.
A Movable Object is Placed on the Sidewalk – the Мayor of 'Primorski' District, Varna, must provide access to the placement permit and to all documents verifying the lawful positioning of the object 09.07.2025
The Administrative Court Sofia-city upheld the appeal against the district administration’s refusal to provide documents related to a movable structure.
International Conference of Information Commissioners 2025 04.07.2025
Between June 23 and 25, 2025, the 16th International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC 2025) was held in Berlin, Germany, under the theme "Access to Environmental Information in a Digital Era".
On the European Day of Action Against SLAPPs: A Call for Nova TV to Drop the Lawsuit against Svetlana Bozhilova and Kalin Manolov 02.07.2025
The Access to Information Programme and the Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria call on Nova TV to drop the lawsuit filed against Associate Professor Svetlana Bozhilova and the journalist Kalin Manolov.
The Case concerning the Personal ID Numbers (EGNs) Disclosed by Political Party “Vazrazhdane” is Awaiting a Court Decision 12.03.2025
The legal representative of the complainants, attorney Alexander Kashumov, Executive Director of the Access to Information Programme, stated that “the citizens’ data were deliberately and systematically collected, processed, and published in violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This constitutes the most serious breach of personal data protection since the adoption of the Personal Data Protection Act in 2001. This is because it was carried out with the aim of stigmatizing individuals, fostering hatred in society, and provoking intolerance, in violation of the fundamental principles of law and the protection of human rights. It is well known that groups close to ‘Vazrazhdane’ have undertaken actions to restrict citizens’ rights and to commit violence against individuals and property. In this context, the unlawful disclosure of personal data is perceived by the victims as a threat. This cannot and should not be tolerated in a state governed by the rule of law.”
The Case concerning the Personal Identification Numbers (EGNs) Disclosed by the Political Party ‘Vazrazhdane’ has Entered the Court 26.02.2025
On February 26, the Sofia City Administrative Court gave the go-ahead to a case brought by citizens against a decision of the Commission for Personal Data Protection (CPDP), which had “pardoned” the political party Vazrazhdane for publicly publishing online in 2022 nearly 1,000 Bulgarian personal identification numbers (EGNs). The court ordered the CPDP to submit missing documents from the case file and allowed the hearing of a witness. The case was filed by citizens who are members of boards of various non-governmental organizations and commercial companies.
AIP and Citizen Network Watchdog Poland submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Court in Strasbourg 13.02.2025
On 4 February 2025, the European Court of Human Rights notified Access to Information Programme that it has received their amicus curiae brief on a pending case concerning a violation of Art. 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (freedom of expression and the right to receive and impart information), prepared in collaboration with Citizen Network Watchdog Poland.
