The Bureau of Investigative Reporting and Data (BIRD) is an independent project using data journalism to expose conflicts of interest, corruption and abuse of power.
BIRD periodically publishes investigations and maintains public search engines with data on political figures, companies, public procurement, EU funds and other public information.
The site is published by the NGO DRJI – Data for Reporters, Journalists and Investigations, registered in France under the number W751252632
BRRD is funded by donations from readers and contributors, and from projects. We are not funded by advertising in any form. Our funding is as transparent, public and accountable as possible.
BIRD is a partner of the Organized Crime and Corruption Investigation Network OCCRP
BIRD is a partner of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists ICIJ
The website does not contain or process personal data within the meaning of the GDPR, beyond those available in official public records.
In our journalistic work we adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Bulgarian media.
Atanas Tchobanov – investigative journalist, member of ICIJ
Dimitar Stoyanov – investigative reporter
Gesho Ivanov – court reporter
Consultant: Krasimir Gadzhokov – Information Technologies
Former collaborator: Nikolay Kubarelov – BIRD search engine developer and data analyst
Awards
- 2023 – Online Journalism Award Excellence in Collaboration and Partnerships for the project Story Killers
- 2023 – European Press Prize innovation award for the project Russian Assets Tracker by OCCRP
- 2021 – Atanas Tchobanov and Dimitar Stoyanov are ICIJ finalists for the Pulitzer award with the investigation FinCen Files.
- 2020 – Atanas Tchobanov as part of the Troika Laundromat investigation got Sigma Award for data journalism.
- 2019 – Atanas Tchobanov as part of “The Azerbaijani Laundromat“ investigation got the Global Shining Light Awards certificate of excellency.
- 2019 – Dimitar Stoyanov got the special George Weidenfeld award for courageous investigative journalism by Alex Springer.
- 2018 – Atanas Tchobanov got “Free Electron” award by the Blue Link foundation.
- 2018 – Dimitar Stoyanov is “Journalist of the year” in Bulgaria
- 2017 – Atanas Tchobanov as part of the investigation “Making a Killing” got the Global Shining Light Awards certificate of excellency.
- 2016 – Atanas Tchobanov awarded for investigative reporting by the Serbian independent journalists association NUNS for the “Making a Killing” investigation.
- 2015 – Atanas Tchobanov awarded together with KRIK for investigative reporting by the Serbian independent journalists association NUNS.
Pressure and Threats
- 2024 April – Dimitar Stoyanov was attacked on the street by a drunk man and defended himself, showing his legally owned gun. He was arrested for 24 hours and his home searched.
- 2023 – Dimitar Stoyanov was relocated abroad after he received serious reports his life is endangered.
- December 29, 2022 – The four tires of the company car used by Dimitar Stoyanov in Sofia were slashed.
- September – October 2022 – Atanas Chobanov was stopped three times at Sofia Airport when leaving the country to receive a subpoena for an interview as a witness in a pre-trial proceeding, formed after the “Gorigate” investigation.
- January 7, 2022 – Atanas Chobanov receives a call from the US Embassy in Sofia, in which he is officially warned of an imminent assassination threat.
- February 20, 2020 – Atanas Chobanov finds a black hat from a Bulgarian manufacturer on his car in a parking lot in front of his home in Paris.
- November 17, 2019 – Atanas Chobanov finds a black hat with a skull and bones on his car in a parking lot in front of his home in Paris.
- 2019 – The Prosecutor’s Office issues a European Investigation Order to France to interrogate Atanas Chobanov in connection with the data leak scandal from the National Revenue Agency (NRA).
- 2018 – Dimitar Stoyanov and his Romanian colleague Attila Biro were detained during the #JeepGate investigation – revelations about massive abuses of European and budget funds by consulting and construction companies associated with Valentin Zlatev.
- 2017 – Atanas Chobanov receives a Sicilian message. A large plush wolf was left on the hood of his car in front of his residence in Paris.
- 2015 – A pre-trial proceeding was opened against the editor-in-chief of the “Bivol” site, Atanas Chobanov, for surveillance based on a signal from the former Minister Ivan Danov, exposed as the “French unemployed”. The signal was terminated with the opinion that there were data that Danov had committed a crime and there was no surveillance.
- 2015 – Dimitar Stoyanov was demonstratively followed by thugs during an investigation of the Bulgarian Industrial Bank (PIB). Unknown persons enter and search his home. Dimitar files complaints, but nothing is revealed.
- 2013 – Dimitar Stoyanov was doused with gasoline and threatened to be set on fire during a report.
- 2012 – Dimitar Stoyanov receives threats while filming a report on drunk magistrates during working hours. The group includes Veselin Penkgezov and the current member of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), Sevdalin Mavrov. Police protection is assigned to him.
Contact us
contact [at] bird [dot] en
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