Skopje investigates websites, social media accounts suspected of ınciting tensions with Bulgaria
Baku, July 7, AZERTAC
The Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Administration for Security and Counterintelligence (UBK) in North Macedonia are conducting an investigation into approximately 20 websites and profiles on Facebook and Instagram on suspicion that they were used for the organized dissemination of hate speech and incitement of tension through content related to relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and Bulgaria, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) reported citing the Skopje1.mk on Sunday.
The article reported that the investigation is focused on "the increased volume of content in recent months – ranging from leaflets and posts related to the inclusion of Bulgarians in the Constitution to provocative posts and materials suspected of being intended to incite mutual insults, hatred, and the radicalization of public debate between citizens of North Macedonia and Bulgaria". The investigation is also looking into how some of these activities were financed.
The MOI confirmed the information to Sloboden Pecat without specifying which websites and social media profiles were involved. The Ministry stated that it is investigating reports regarding websites and social media profiles suspected of committing the crime of disseminating racist and xenophobic material via the Internet.
The UBK already conducted an investigation into an organized network that allegedly used propaganda to incite violence, hatred, and intolerance between the people of Bulgaria and North Macedonia. Sloboden Pecat wrote: "Following information previously provided to the UBK indicating subversive propaganda activities in the country by local and foreign non-state actors, the Prosecutor's Office and the MOI/Bureau for Public Security simultaneously undertook coordinated measures and actions to prosecute individuals and seize propaganda materials intended to incite ethnic and national intolerance, discord, and hatred among citizens."
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