A television journalist was brutally murdered in the northern Bulgarian town of Ruse, prosecutors said Sunday. She had been beaten, raped and strangled, authorities said.

Viktoria Marinova, who reported on an investigation into alleged corruption involving European Union funds, died from blows to her head and suffocation, regional prosecutor Georgy Georgiev said.

The 30-year-old's body was found in a park on Saturday. "Her mobile phone, car keys, glasses and part of her clothes were missing," Georgiev said.

Bulgarian Interior Minister Mladen Marinov said there was no evidence to suggest that the murder was linked to her work.

Marinova was a board member of the Ruse-based TV station TVN. She recently reported on an investigation by a group of Bulgarian journalists into companies involved in EU-funded infrastructure projects administered by local authorities.

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Marinova had recently hosted investigative journalists working on corruption in Bulgaria on her morning show

'Worst performer in the EU'

But not everyone believes her death is unconnected to her work.

Daniel Kaddik, media expert and head of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation's office in Bulgaria, told DW that the situation for press freedom in the country is so dire that many citizens immediately thought a political motive was likely behind the murder.

"What is interesting is that Bulgarian civil society has quickly jumped on this case, and nobody has any doubt that it might be a politically motivated act," Kaddik said.

"Bulgaria ranks 111th in the world in terms of press freedom. That makes Bulgaria not only the worst performer in the EU but in the whole of the Balkans."

Calls for speedy investigation

The German Foreign Ministry urged Bulgarian authorities to ensure "there is a fast investigation and that this horrible event will be illuminated as comprehensively as possible." The EU Commission also called for a "swift and thorough" probe into the murder.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov didn't comment on a motive, but said he expects the police to find the perpetrators quickly.

"I am convinced it is a matter of time before the murder would be revealed. The best criminologists were sent to Ruse, let's not press them. A large amount of DNA has been obtained," Borisov said.

Poor press freedom record

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) media freedom representative, Harlem Desir, condemned Marinova's killing on Twitter, saying that "those responsible must be held to account."

Reporters Without Borders, which ranked Bulgaria 111th out of 180 countries in its 2018 World Press Freedom Index, called for an urgent investigation into the murder.

A spokeswoman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag said Marinova's killing was a "continuation of an appalling trend over the last 12 months."

"Doing critical research is becoming increasingly dangerous for investigative journalists in some countries," spokeswoman Elisabeth Motschmann told DW. "Every journalist murder is a cowardly attack on the freedom of the press, and therefore also on free, pluralistic societies."

More journalists killed in EU

Marinova is the third journalist to have been murdered in the EU in a year.

Last October, Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed when a powerful bomb blew up her car, and Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak was shot dead in February.

Press freedom ranking 2017: From Norway to North Korea The leader: Norway Nowhere in the world can journalists work as freely as in Norway, the "Reporters Without Borders" report says. It ranks number one among 180 countries. That has to do with the diversity of the media: Norwegians have some 200 newspapers to choose from. Government agencies' duty to disclose data and state subsidizing of media institutions also contribute to Norway's high marks in press freedom.

Press freedom ranking 2017: From Norway to North Korea Picking up the rear: North Korea North Korea is at the bottom of the list of 180 countries. Journalists must adhere to a strict "information policy," which exults the superiority of former leader Kim Jong-il's legacy and of his son, Kim Jong-un. Televisions and radios can only pick up state broadcasters, meaning that the media is completely isolated. Those who criticize the system must reckon with draconian measures.

Press freedom ranking 2017: From Norway to North Korea Mid-field: The United States The US ranks 43rd - two spots down from the previous year. Widespread NSA surveillance during former President Barack Obama's administration is one reason for the drop. Improvement, however, remains at bay: Various law suits and public broadsides on the part of his successor, Donald Trump, against journalists and the freewheeling handling of "alternative facts" are alarming press representatives.

Press freedom ranking 2017: From Norway to North Korea Upward climber: Italy Italy has moved up 25 notches - to spot 52 - as compared to 2016. As the grip of Silvio Berlusconi's media empire on politics weakens, journalists can now work more freely. Still, organized crime continues to have a marked impact. Six journalists remain under police protection due to mafia death threats.

Press freedom ranking 2017: From Norway to North Korea Relegated spot: Nicaragua The 2016 re-election and ensuing fourth term of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega mean one thing for government critics: harassment and repression. Ortega and his family control the judiciary and the television market. Nicaragua made the biggest drop in the press freedom ranking for last year, moving down 17 notches to spot 92.

Press freedom ranking 2017: From Norway to North Korea Still the same: Germany Press freedom is highly regarded in Germany, with the country keeping its spot at 16 - the same as the previous year. But there is still cause for concern: Especially during right-wing demonstrations, violent attacks and threats toward journalists have increased. According to a study by conflict researcher Andreas Zick, more and more journalists exercise self-censorship as they work. Author: Max Hunger (als)



ls/aw (AFP, dpa, Reuters)

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