19 May 2003

:: NEWS ::

Editor-in-chief of Varna daily brutally assaulted

2002 news

The editor-in-chief of the Varna daily Chernomorie and owner of the electronic site Dnes+, Anton Lukov, was brutally assaulted by unidentified attackers in Varna.

Lukov was attacked on 19 May at around 9.30 am near his home in the centre of the city. The attackers hit him with a metal pipe and kicked him until he lost consciousness. As a result of the beating Anton Lukov, 37, sustained moderate brain injury, a broken upper jaw, and broken arm. His life is not in danger.

The Bulgarian Media Coalition (BMC) condemned the attack in a declaration. The media organization has demanded an urgent meeting with the Interior Ministry to receive guarantees that all attacks against journalists will be investigated and the perpetrators - brought to justice. "It is unacceptable that the masterminds and perpetrators of such crimes against journalists as rule go unpunished," says the BMC in its declaration.

The police are working on several possible motives for the attack. One of them is that Lukov's publications were behind the assault. A commentary published by Lukov in the Chernomorie daily alleges that more and more people in Varna were linking the city mayor with connections with organized crime groups. Lukov has also published materials on the criminal groups in Varna, and of connections of politicians with them. The electronic site Dnes+ had featured critical articles about the local TIM Corporation.

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