Committee for Open Democracy

04/22/2026

COD election observers met with Metodi Baykushev, the Mayor of Blagoevgrad, on Sunday to discuss election preparations and the voting process. We thank the Mayor for his work and hospitality.

04/21/2026

Because of COD’s long history of working in Ukraine, the observation mission team visited the Ukrainian embassy in Sofia at the ambassador's invitation. Ambassador Olesya Ivaschuk discussed the political situation in Bulgaria and gave the delegation a tour of the embassy. Slava Ukraina!

04/21/2026

The Committee for Open Democracy (COD) presents the Preliminary Statement of our International Election Observation Mission for the 2026 Bulgarian Parliamentary Elections.

Access the report and detailed findings here:

The Committee for Open Democracy, an experienced international election observation organization, deployed a mission to Bulgaria for the parliamentary elections held on April 19, 2026. The mission consisted of 10 observers from the United States, Lithuania, Ukraine, Sweden, Canada, and Denmark, led....

04/19/2026

A shocking violation of the rules of international election observation just took place. A candidate from the Movement for Rights & Freedom, named Fatima Ismail Yildiz took control of the election commission and ordered the removal of the international observer. The candidate entered the voting station after the end of voting and was illegally allowed to enter with several unidentified individuals who lacked credentials. Historically, such violations happen only in voting stations where massive fraud is taking place. In fact, the international observer was out the voting station specifically because there was an unsealed mobile ballot box that was discovered. Then the Lithuanian observer whom was officially accredited by the Central Election Commission of Bulgaria, was denied his right to a translator and subsequently kicked out from the voting station where he was trying to exercise his legal right to observe the vote count.

The Committee for Open Democracy calls on Bulgarian law enforcement to investigate and prosecute the incident to the fullest extent of the Bulgarian legislation.

04/19/2026

Scenes from today’s voting in Bulgaria. More info soon.

04/19/2026

Today is Election Day in Bulgaria.

Our observers continue to monitor the electoral process, ensuring transparency, fairness, and compliance with democratic standards. 🗳️

04/18/2026

News coverage of the Bulgarian election in the Financial Times:

Russia-friendly ex-president Rumen Radev projected to win parliamentary vote on Sunday in race to become PM

04/18/2026

Scenes from the COD briefing in Sofia before the parliamentary elections on April 19. 🗳️

02/22/2026

COD mourns the passing of Yuri Polakiwsky. Yuri dedicated his life to helping Ukraine, and as part of work, he was a frequent international election observer for COD.

Rest in peace, dear friend. 🕯️