Bulgaria Licensed Surveillance Exports to Repressive Regimes, Leaked Documents Show

Leaked licenses reveal that Bulgaria's export control authority approved the sale of sophisticated surveillance technology by a Sofia-based firm to intelligence agencies in countries known for repression. The technology includes phone-tracking tools and monitoring systems. Human Rights Watch published the licenses, which detail exports by Circles BG to Azerbaijan, Serbia, Malaysia, Mexico, the UAE, and others. These nations have documented records of suppressing dissent. The approvals raise serious concerns about Bulgaria's role in facilitating state surveillance in authoritarian regimes. The revelations highlight potential violations of international human rights standards.

Leaked licenses show Bulgaria approved exports of surveillance technology to countries accused of repression, raising human rights concerns.