Bulgarian Committee for Disclosing the Documents of the Former State Security Services Awarded Access to Information Programme for Contribution to the Opening of the Archives

The Chairperson of the Committee, Evtim Kostadinov, presents the award to Gergana Jouleva, AIP Executive Director

The Chairperson of the Committee, Evtim Kostadinov, AIP Executive Director, Gergana Jouleva, and Head of AIP legal team, Alexander Kashumov

On April 8, 2010, in the New Conference Hall of the Sofia University Kliment Ohridski, on its third anniversary, the Committee for Disclosing the Documents and Announcing Affiliation of Bulgarian citizens to the State Security and the Intelligence Services of the Bulgarian National Army gave awards to two nongovernmental organizations and two journalists. Access to Information Programme (AIP) was recognized with a plaque for contribution to the opening of the archives of the communist secret services and a diploma for strengthening the reputation of the Committee.

„It’s an honor that the Committee recognizes AIP with this award. This is the first Bulgarian award we receive. Moreover, the award is given by an institution which has demonstrated how to work efficiently. When there is a clear goal, good organization and people united by this goal, remarkable results can be achieved for a short time – something that has been proven by the activity report presented by the chairman of the Committee,” AIP executive director Gergana Jouleva said receiving the award.

It is the first time the Committee presents the awards. The other recognized were Hannah Arendt Center in Sofia, and the journalists Maria Dermendzieva, Glasove weekly, and Hristo Hristov, Dnevnik daily.