site.btaDefence Minister: Disinformation Poses Threat to Bulgaria Comparable to Conventional War

Disinformation today poses a threat to our country and society comparable to the threat of a conventional war, caretaker Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov said in a written reply to Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria MP Ivaylo Mirchev regarding measures to counter foreign influence on public opinion.

Zapryanov emphasized the importance of the cognitive aspect for defence, along with the physical and virtual ones.

Disinformation is currently the main tool of Russia's hybrid war against Bulgaria aimed at manipulating public opinion. Cognitive warfare aims to undermine the critical thinking of citizens, to reinforce divisions in society, to erode trust in institutions and to influence the decision-making processes, said the Minister.

The defence sector, which plays a key role in ensuring national security, is the target of systematic malicious information, Zapryanov pointed out.

Countering foreign influence

Successfully countering foreign hostile influence on public opinion can only be carried out as a state-wide and nation-wide function. It should be coordinated at the inter-agency level, mobilizing the resources of the state, the media, the civil sector, industries and academia, Zapryanov said.

The fight against disinformation must be established as a strategic priority for all state institutions and for society as a whole. An institutional framework for effective government strategic communications with the people is necessary.

To this end, a lead national institution should be identified, and sustainable inter-agency and public cooperation should be promoted, according to the Minister.

He added that while freedom of speech and pluralism of opinion are fundamental rights in a democratic society, they should not be abused to promote misinformation, propaganda and fake news.

Examples of disinformation

Zapryanov's list of subjects of disinformation includes Bulgaria's membership in NATO and the EU, the country's strategic partnership with the US, the operations of the Bulgarian army and Bulgaria's support for Ukraine, which is "in our strategic interest," he added.

The Minister's statement reads: "A striking example of one of the most absurd Russian hybrid lies are the rumours about the upcoming deployment of Bulgarian servicepersons to the Ukrainian front. Many people are misled by such manipulations, and this is one of the specific directions for our work aimed at increasing public resistance to disinformation. We must admit that the problem of vacancies in the armed forces today is also due to such lies."

The Defence Ministry has repeatedly stated that Bulgarian servicepersons will not be sent to Ukraine.

Another example of misinformation is the suggestion that building infrastructure in the Kabile military area in Southeastern Bulgaria is not in the interest of Bulgaria and its army but would only benefit NATO, which turns a part of the locals against the project. To address this problem, the Ministry of Defence held a series of meetings with the local authorities and the command of the military unit to assure them that it would lead to investments in the region and create new jobs.

In late November 2024, Bulgaria's Chief of Defence Emil Eftimov said that the Ministry of Defence is actively working to combat misinformation about the armed forces, which seeks to divide Bulgarian society, including military personnel, and discourage young people from enlisting.