Founder of De Re Militari Journal. Freelancer and analyst with focus on conflicts, Syria an the Balkans. Co-founder of Global Voices in Bulgarian.
Latest posts by Ruslan Trad
Political and social crises to blame for the ‘COVID-19 disaster’ in Bulgaria
"Instead of creating a unified campaign to explain the situation and why it is important for people to be vaccinated, politicians ... are competing in their silence and dubious statements"
As Some March to Honor a Pro-Nazi General in Sofia, Others Rally to Decry Fascism
"Lukov...was one of the fiercest advocates of Bulgaria’s Nazi-inspired 'Law for the Protection of the Nation' that, among other things, forced the country’s 50,000 Jews to wear yellow stars."
ISIS Attempts to Exploit Balkan War Wounds With Localized Propaganda
The region has a painful legacy of war that has divided people along ethnic and religious lines.
‘Justice for All’ Initiative Seeks Judicial Reforms and an End to High-Level Corruption in Bulgaria
About 2,000 people gathered in the center of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, demanding judicial reforms. Protests were also held in the cities of Plovdiv and Varna.
Bulgarians React Quickly in Solidarity Response to Hitrino Train Tragedy
At least seven people were killed in the blast that followed a rail accident in one of the country's most impoverished regions.
Russia-Trained Civil Militias Along Bulgaria's Borders Are ‘Ready for War With Refugees’
The civilian militias hunting refugees along the country's borders are a major manifestation of the rising tide of xenophobia in Bulgaria. Yet the authorities are mostly silent on the issue.
Bulgaria's First Crowdfunding Journalism Project
Bulgaria, a member of the European Union, has a big problem with freedom of the media. The Balkan country is ranked 106 out of 180 countries in the 2015 World...
Bulgaria's Mizia Is a City Under Water After Heavy Flooding
Hundreds of people lost their homes in the city of Mizia, when unrelenting rain recently caused the Skat River to overflow. Bulgarians have scrambled to gather supplies for the victims.
Russian-French Opposition Activist Koblyakov Arrested in Bulgaria
Nikolay Koblyakov, founder of the French NGO Free Russia, which for years has organized protests against Putin's regime, was arrested at Sofia Airport on July 29, 2014.
Crowdsourcing a Fair Election in Bulgaria
In less than five days, on May 12, Bulgarian citizens will elect a new parliament. There are doubts, however, about the fairness of the upcoming vote. To help monitor the violations of the electoral process, Bulgarian activists have created several online tools. Ruslan Trad reports.
Self-Immolations Energize Bulgarian Protests
Three recent cases of self-immolation in Bulgaria have energized the protesters. New rallies are planned for March 3, Bulgaria's National Day. Ruslan Trad reports.
Bulgarian Government Quits, But Protests Continue
The protests in Bulgaria continue: on Sunday, in Sofia and other cities, tens of thousands of people marched against corruption, high utility bills and poverty. Ruslan Trad reports from the Bulgarian capital.
High Energy Bills Keep Bulgarians Protesting
On Sunday, February 17, tens of thousands of people in Bulgaria's capital Sofia and other cities continued to protest against high electricity and heating bills. Ruslan Trad reports.
Inside the Audacious Assassination Attempt in Bulgaria
The January 19 gunman attack on the Bulgarian politician Ahmed Dogan has provoked many reactions by politicians and netizens - with some convinced that the assassination attempt was staged.
Counter of Syrian War Victims Installed in Bulgarian Capital
“Support Syrian bloggers and activists” Facebook page published a photo of the counter of victims and refugees of the war in Syria, which has recently been installed by CommonStep Association...
Bulgarian Activist on Hunger Strike Against State Monopoly
On Dec. 1, Chavdar Yanev set up a tent in front of the Bulgarian Supreme Judicial Council in Sofia and went on hunger strike to protest a judicial system that...
Candles Lit for Gaza in Bulgaria's Capital
About 100 people gathered in Sofia's central square to show their support for the victims of Israel's recent Operation Pillar of Defense in the Gaza Strip. Facebook page “Together for...
Massive Rally in Bulgaria's Capital Ends in Arrests (Updated)
On Nov. 5, some 1,500 people took part in an anti-government rally in Sofia, organized by the Bulgarian section [bg] of the Anonymous. There were other, smaller, protests in other...
Bulgaria: “Are You a Terrorist?”
Bulgarian NGO “Forum for Arab Culture” tweeted [bg] a photo of the “Are you a terrorist?” quiz that appeared in the national daily “24 chasa,” asking if it was right...
Bulgaria: Sofia, “Past&Present”
To celebrate the Day of the Bulgarian capital Sofia on Sept. 17, Alexander Nikolov posted a photo project called Past&Present. Each photo in this project combines an old and a...
Bulgaria: Syrian and Iraqi Refugees on Hunger Strike
Bulgarian newspaper Dnevnik reports [bg] that 25 asylum seekers (21 Syrians and four Iraqis) went on hunger strike to protest the slowness of the asylum-granting procedures at the detention center...
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