site.btaTrailblazing Bulgarian Journalist Margarita Mihneva Passes Away at 72

Renowned Bulgarian investigative journalist Margarita Mihneva has passed away at the age of 72. She died on December 16 in a clinic in Geneva, as reported by the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and 24 Chasa. Mihneva had been battling cancer for years.

She is one of the pioneers of investigative journalism in Bulgaria and one of the most recognizable personalities in Bulgarian journalism.

Born on April 21, 1952, in Sofia, Mihneva graduated with a law degree from Sofia University. Her journalism career began unexpectedly when she applied for a position at the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) in 1975. Competing against 150 candidates for two positions, she secured her place and went on to pioneer investigative reporting in Bulgaria.

Throughout her career, Mihneva was celebrated for her relentless pursuit of truth. “I made my choice and don’t regret it,” she once said about her work in investigative journalism. “There are always more stories to uncover, more of people’s pain to expose and address. It’s worth dedicating yourself to this cause. The Bulgarian people are incredibly intelligent and soulful.”

In the summer of 1989, Mihneva played a key role in covering the controversial "Regeneration Process" - the name by which a campaign of forcible assimilation of ethnic Turks in Bulgaria was officially referred to - delivering hard-hitting reports from Bulgaria’s border during the mass exodus of ethnic Turks.

From 1992 to 1999, she hosted Conflicts on BNT, a groundbreaking program that achieved the highest ratings on the channel despite having the lowest budget. Her work confronted issues like government corruption, the moral integrity of leaders, and the foundations of democracy in Bulgaria. The program earned her the trust of the public, who saw her as "a voice for the voiceless".

“My phone was constantly ringing,” Mihneva once said of her work on Conflicts. “People stopped me in the streets, expecting me to replace institutions that had failed them.” Despite her popularity, she was often branded “The Difficult One” or “The Crazy One” for her fearless reporting. To such nicknames, she retorted: “What’s crazy about me? Perhaps the fact that I care about people’s problems. You’d have to be a little crazy to take on this merciless fight and endure the constant pressure.”

Mihneva’s career spanned several television stations, including Nova TV and Kanal 3. She was repeatedly dismissed by television executives, a fate she attributed to her bold reporting. “Every government has fired me,” she once said.

Her investigative work often led to legal battles. “I’ve lost count of who has sued me or why,” she said in an interview. “Whenever a case is brought against me, I know I’ve done my job right. It means I’ve touched a nerve.”

Mihneva also made history as the only Bulgarian journalist to win lawsuits against a newspaper editor-in-chief (Tosho Toshev of Trud) and a television director (Khacho Boyadzhiev of BNT).

In 2021, Mihneva was diagnosed with bone cancer, two decades after overcoming breast cancer.

Her legacy is defined by her unyielding commitment to justice and her willingness to challenge powerful interests.

She leaves behind a trail of groundbreaking journalism and an indelible mark on Bulgaria’s media landscape.