Civil Society Under Threat: Resisting Peevski’s Attempt to Undermine Democracy

On 30 January 2025, Bulgarian MP Delyan Slavchev Peevski proposed the forming of a special parliamentary commission to investigate Bulgarian civil society organisations linked to American philanthropists George and Alexander Soros. He claimed that these organisations pose a threat to the rule of law in the country, compromise the fundamental principles of democracy, and thereby create conditions for dictatorship.

We, the people working in the targeted civil society organizations, have always fought to make Bulgarian society fairer, more just, and more accountable. Many of the rights Bulgarians take for granted today were won through our efforts—rights that we now find ourselves defending once again.We will not abandon our efforts to see Bulgaria as a law-abiding, democratic country where the rule of law, not coercion, prevails. We are convinced that everyone who values democracy and individual freedom must take a stand today.

In this context, it is important to recall who Delyan Peevski is and which organisations he is referring to.

Since the beginning of Bulgaria’s democratic transition, the foundations established by American philanthropists have invested millions in the country to support initiatives that develop the public sphere and essential services. These funds, in collaboration with civil society organisations, have even supported government projects over the years. They have contributed to the development of public policies and provided care for the most vulnerable members of society—children and adults in institutions, women victims of violence, people with disabilities, the Roma community, and many others. They have also played a significant role in the advancement of educational institutions, offering thousands of talented but underprivileged young people the opportunity to pursue higher education. All the resources invested in strengthening Bulgarian democracy through the Open Society Foundations and their partners in Bulgaria is fully transparent and traceable.

Delyan Peevski, on the other hand, is among those sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom for serious corruption. His meteoric and inexplicable rise began at the age of 21, in just his second year at the Law Faculty of the University of Blagoevgrad, when he was appointed parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Transport during the NDSV party's government. Shortly thereafter, he became chairman of the board of directors of the Port of Varna. His political and professional career progressed rapidly, despite being photographed in 2002 among the close associates of the underground boss Ilia Pavlov. He quickly qualified as a lawyer and was appointed as an investigative magistrate shortly after graduating. He then became Deputy Minister for Disaster Management. In 2013, then-Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski nominated him as head of the State Agency for National Security, a decision that triggered the longest protests since Bulgaria’s accession to the EU.

In 2021, Delyan Peevski was announced as one of the Bulgarians sanctioned under the US Global Magnitsky Act, which targets individuals and entities involved in serious human rights violations and corruption worldwide.

Moreover, there are well-founded concerns about Peevski’s influence over the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Judicial Council. Additionally, questions remain regarding the electoral success of DPS–New Beginnings, the party led by Peevski.

The proposal to establish a special parliamentary commission to investigate the activities of Bulgaria’s most transparent NGOs constitutes a direct violation of the freedom of association and represents a dangerous interference in the country’s democratic framework. It is striking that such a proposal could be made without any substantive justification or supporting evidence.

Equally concerning is the fact that a figure such as Delyan Peevski—who has consistently demonstrated his aspirations for one-man rule—now claims that civil society organisations pose a threat to democracy and foster conditions for dictatorship.

Dictatorship can only thrive in the absence of active citizens and civic organisations—precisely the outcome that Delyan Peevski appears to be pursuing.