Bulgarian presidential candidate removed from BNT interview

Bulgarian National Television (BNT) terminated a pre-election interview with presidential candidate Ventsislav Angelov, also known as ‘Chicago’, during its morning broadcast. The decision followed Angelov’s use of language deemed offensive and in violation of hate speech regulations set by the Central Election Commission and the Council for Electronic Media.

Hosts Hristina Hristova and Simeon Ivanov had warned the candidate prior to the segment that the dialogue would be stopped if he used insults. The tension escalated when Angelov used a term with antisemitic connotations while discussing his past incarceration in a Cypriot prison. Angelov attempted to defend his choice of words by claiming he was referring to the ‘Khazar mafia’ rather than targeting Jewish people, but the hosts maintained the decision to end the broadcast.

During the interview, Angelov also expressed theories regarding secret societies and alleged that the Bulgarian constitution had been violated, claiming power was not in the hands of the people.