civil society

Hong Kong's new national security law came into force on Saturday, putting into immediate effect tough penalties of up to life imprisonment for crimes including treason and insurrection.

The law — commonly referred to as Article 23 — targets five categories of national security crimes and was swiftly passed by Hong Kong's opposition-free legislature on Tuesday.

Bulgaria has taken a firm stance against the recent Russian presidential elections held in the illegally occupied territories of Ukraine, including Transnistria, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. In a statement released on social media, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed strong condemnation of these elections.

In a resolute stance against the recent Russian presidential elections held in the occupied Ukrainian regions, the European Union has officially declared its non-recognition of the process. Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, issued a statement on behalf of the Community countries outlining their strong condemnation and concerns.

Amidst unprecedented violence and turmoil in Haiti, Prime Minister Ariel Henry has announced his resignation, succumbing to mounting pressure from armed criminal gangs and calls for political change. Henry, who has been ruling Haiti since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, faced escalating attacks by criminal groups demanding his resignation.

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov and Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel engaged in discussions with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, shedding light on the grave implications of democratic erosion within the European landscape.

Delyan Peevski, Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of DPS, has issued a stark warning about the proliferation of nearly 400 fake websites disseminating pro-Russian propaganda across Bulgaria.

In a diplomatic showdown following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Bulgaria summoned the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Eleonora Mitrofanova, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Amidst shifting political dynamics in Bulgaria, the "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" coalition has put forth a memorandum outlining conditions for collaboration with the GERB party following Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov's anticipated resignation on March 6.

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which will hold its third event since its foundation, will focus on the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where the Israeli security forces are committing massacres of civilians that left more than 28,000 people already dead.

For civil society to function properly, it needs autonomy. The state should not stifle the activities of charitable organizations.

However, it seems that the minimum conditions to carry out a public benefit action and to accept and manage donations must be ensured. These organizations should at least have legal status so that rudimentary accountability to the authorities is possible.