Balgarianovinite.com bTV reported on Monday that it has decided to part ways with journalist Maria Tsansarova, a host of the TV channel’s morning show. Tensions between the two sides escalated after, on the day of the large-scale anti-government protest on December 10, Tsansarova placed in front of her on air a cup bearing the inscription “Time to make real change”. The cup appeared and disappeared from the frame several times during the broadcast.
bTV views this as one of the “multiple” instances in which she expressed her political preferences on air, “which is unacceptable and does not meet any journalistic standard”. As another reason for her dismissal, the broadcaster stated that “Maria Tsansarova allowed herself on air to make numerous comments accusing her immediate superior of exerting editorial pressure – which is his right, prerogative and duty, namely to ensure that all points of view are presented.” As a third violation, bTV highlighted her decision “to extend an interview with a guest on the morning show by more than 15 minutes, as a result of which the News programme was not aired at its scheduled time” – described in the statement as a serious breach of the media outlet’s internal rules.
In its statement, the TV channel described these actions as “unprecedented violations” of professional standards, while also noting that Tsansarova had been offered a list of leading positions on “another prime-time programmes”. The statement does not explain why such offers were made in light of the accusations.
The media outlet said it would not yield to external pressure and has launched a process to terminate its relationship with the journalist.
On Friday, protesters gathered outside the bTV building in solidarity with Tsansarova and the other morning show presenter, Zlatimir Yochev. The demonstration was organised by the Association of European Journalists in Bulgaria (AEJ-Bulgaria) under the slogan “The cup has overflowed; we’ve had enough.” The rally followed information circulated earlier on Friday that Tsansarova, and likely her colleague Yochev, had been removed as hosts of the television station’s morning programme.
“We want to remind that Bulgaria must fulfil its obligations under the European Media Freedom Act, which protects media outlets, public and private alike, from political interference. Unfortunately, what is happening with Maria creates precisely that impression: yet another heavy-handed act of political pressure against independent journalism in Bulgaria,” AEJ said in a statement ahead of the protest.
Before bTV’s statement on Monday, Tsansarova wrote on Facebook that “everything is true” and that she had been “taken off the air”.
In late September 2025, an international fact-finding mission by press-freedom organizations visited Sofia and concluded that Bulgaria remains among the EU countries with the most serious media-freedom deficits. Speaking at a news conference at the BTA National Press Club, AEJ-Bulgaria’s Irina Nedeva said journalists were increasingly being denied interviews and answers to critical questions, and were facing delays and hostility when seeking information. BTA has also reported that Bulgaria fell from 59th to 70th place in the Reporters Without Borders media-freedom index, with the RSF assessment pointing to persistent intimidation of journalists, risks to editorial independence in both public and private media, and pressure through SLAPP cases. bTV Ends Contract with Journalist Maria Tsansarova over “Political Bias, Editorial Pressure Claims”, TV Channel Faces Media Freedom Criticism 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-12-22 13:40:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law