The day in 3 news: Insurer files record suit against media; BNB eyes economic slowdown in 2023; Telecoms fight over monopoly case

The day in 3 news: Insurer files record suit against media; BNB eyes economic slowdown in 2023; Telecoms fight over monopoly case

© Юлия Лазарова


The insurance company Lev Ins has filed a lawsuit against the online media Mediapool.bg, seeking one million leva in indemnities.

The action relates to an article from September 2022, quoting a transcript of a meeting of the Council of Ministers, in which government officials allegedly discussed cooperating with Lev Ins regarding payments owed to foreign counterparties within the EU.

Lev Ins is bringing the action over an article entitled "Bulgaria is again threatened to be excluded from the "Green Card" system (subheading: "The state is negotiating with "Lev ins" to reduce the company's liabilities").

"This is the largest claim against a media in the history of Bulgaria in terms of the claimed compensation" said lawyer Alexander Kashamov, who will defend Mediapool in court. He added that this was another SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) case in Bulgaria carrying serious political implications.

BNB predicts slowdown

Bulgaria's growth will continue to slow in the first half of 2023, according to the Bulgarian National Bank's Economic Review, leading to a further decline in the second quarter of the year.

The bank bases its forecast on the expected weaker exports of goods given the worsening global economic activity.

Other factors are specific to Bulgaria - such as the ban on the export of petroleum products from Russian oil to countries other than Ukraine. The outlook also factors in the higher interest rates and the banks' stricter policies.

Yettel challenges United Group's purchase of Bulsatcom

The mobile operator Yettel has requested the Commission for the Protection of Competition to stop the acquisition of the largest TV provider in Bulgaria Bulsatcom by United Group due to conflict of interest.

The company United Group, owner of the mobile operator Vivacom and Nova Broadcasting Group media company, declared that Yettel's objections cannot be sustained on any grounds.

Yettel claims that the purchase of Bulsatcom by the businessman Spas Rusev could disrupt competition and that Vivacom, through Rusev, could monopolise the internet and TV market.

The insurance company Lev Ins has filed a lawsuit against the online media Mediapool.bg, seeking one million leva in indemnities.

The action relates to an article from September 2022, quoting a transcript of a meeting of the Council of Ministers, in which government officials allegedly discussed cooperating with Lev Ins regarding payments owed to foreign counterparties within the EU.

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