The report "Inspection of Embassy Sofia, Bulgaria" by the U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General reviews Embassy Sofia’s operations, management controls, and public diplomacy but does not describe any embassy-run fact-checking unit or editorial methodology for external fact-checking content.[1] It focuses on internal risk management, leadership, and program implementation rather than media fact-checking practices.[1]

A State Department release on cooperation with Bulgaria against disinformation notes that the United States and Bulgaria intend to collaborate to "combat malign foreign influence" and support "independent media" and "media literacy." The document frames the initiative broadly as countering disinformation and promoting democratic resilience, not as promoting a single party or domestic political viewpoint within Bulgaria.

The U.S. Embassy in Sofia is located at 16, Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408, Bulgaria, and the embassy website is bg.usembassy.gov. This confirms the official identity of the embassy whose fact-checking-related pages are being examined.

An earlier U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General inspection report on Embassy Sofia similarly addresses consular operations, public diplomacy, and management issues, but does not describe any system whereby the embassy produces political fact-checks or relies on particular external sources for such content.[2] The methodology section explains that inspectors reviewed records, conducted interviews, and assessed embassy activities, indicating institutional oversight but not editorial source selection for fact-checking.[2]

An OSAC report originating from U.S. Embassy Sofia includes the disclaimer: "The contents of this (U) report in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State, or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). The document was compiled from various open sources and (U) embassy reporting." This shows that at least some Embassy-linked analytical content is based on multiple open sources rather than a single viewpoint.

In a grant announcement titled "Detect and Check Disinformation: open competition for organizations to submit applications," the U.S. Embassy in Sofia seeks projects to "foster the development of independent media in Bulgaria through training for journalists and journalism students." The call describes objectives such as strengthening critical thinking and fact-checking skills, but does not prescribe a particular political ideology or list specific partisan sources to be used in fact-checking content.

Factcheck.bg states in its funding transparency page: "The U.S. Embassy plays no role in any of these activities – editorial, supervisory or otherwise – and they are entirely managed and implemented by Factcheck.bg."[5] It further notes that the grant from the U.S. Embassy covers developing a methodology for scientific fact-checking, coordinating collaborations between scientists and journalists, training scientists, and producing fact checks to be published on the site, but editorial decisions and fact-checking work are carried out independently by Factcheck.bg.[5]

AFP’s Bulgarian fact-checking service (linked by the embassy) is part of Agence France-Presse’s global fact-check programme. AFP explains that its fact-checking work is editorially independent and follows journalistic standards of verification, with a mission to debunk false information circulating online. AFP is a major international wire service rather than a domestic Bulgarian political actor.

Factcheck.bg’s 2023 Fact-Checking Guide, developed in consultation with the Poynter Institute, describes an IFCN-approved methodology that emphasises looking for "the best available evidence" and using "reputable databases, think tanks, academic studies, government reports (depending on the government), research firms and consultation with experts" when fact-checking claims.[4] The guide instructs reporters to be thorough and independent, use on-the-record and primary sources, and maintain credibility by transparency, including links to sources when possible.[4]

The English-language Fact-Checking Guide published by Factcheck.bg explains that statistics, official institutional documents, reports, scientific studies, and information from other legitimate sources "are the best option" for establishing facts.[8] It explicitly warns fact-checkers not to let personal beliefs cloud objective judgment and stresses the use of tools such as Wayback Machine, satellite data and street view, and image forensics to verify digital content, reflecting a methodology based on diverse, verifiable sources rather than a single political viewpoint.[8]

The "Stop Fake" project (which the embassy references via its Bulgarian-language site) was launched by Ukrainian journalists and academics in 2014 to identify and debunk disinformation and propaganda about events in Ukraine. Its mission statement emphasises checking and refuting misinformation and educating audiences about media literacy. The project has been criticised by some commentators as being aligned with Western or Ukrainian government narratives, but it presents itself as a professional fact-checking and media literacy initiative.

AEJ-Bulgaria’s announcement of its digital handbook for fact-checking describes it as a resource that teaches how to use commercial and property registers, track site ownership, verify origins of photos and videos, and use geolocation to check images.[9] The handbook is meant to support investigative journalists and civil society in exposing false news and disinformation, indicating a methodology that draws on multiple databases and technical verification tools rather than a single source or political narrative.[9]

The main homepage of the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria lists sections such as "U.S. & Bulgaria," "News & Events," and "Education & Culture" and links to the Embassy’s social media and communication channels. While it promotes U.S. foreign policy positions and values, it does not display a dedicated in-house "fact-check" section nor any statement that its informational or disinformation-related content is based on only one political viewpoint or a narrow set of sources.

Travel.State.gov lists the U.S. Embassy Sofia contact information and website, confirming the embassy is a U.S. government diplomatic post in Bulgaria. This is primary-source context for any embassy-produced informational or fact-checking content.

Bulgarian National Radio’s fact-checking page, which is listed by the U.S. Embassy as a trusted resource, explains that the "BNR Factcheck" project is implemented by the Bulgarian National Radio and aims to verify information and combat disinformation in the public space. As Bulgaria’s public broadcaster, BNR has an editorial mandate to serve the public interest and maintain impartiality, rather than promote a single party viewpoint.

In the conference "Content moderation in Bulgaria" (2022), a Meta representative explains that the company partners only with entities that have IFCN certification because fact-checking in a country is "a huge responsibility."[10] The representative adds that although Meta sends signals and lists of potentially problematic content, "it is the fact checker that will decide what content will be fact checked" and will perform the assessment, pointing to independent editorial control by the local fact-checking partner rather than by an embassy or government.[10]

A historical diplomatic report titled "The Bulgarian Ethnic Turk Problem: Straws in the Wind?" from the U.S. Embassy in Sofia to the U.S. Secretary of State in December 1989 describes human rights violations against ethnic Turks in Bulgaria and records conversations with Bulgarian leaders. The document shows the Embassy gathering information from multiple interlocutors, including Bulgarian officials and local observations, to inform its analysis. Although not a modern fact-check, it illustrates Embassy practice of drawing on diverse sources and diplomatic reporting rather than a single partisan narrative.

The Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria, which stands behind Factcheck.bg, publishes a charter stating that it defends independent, quality journalism and media freedom, and that its fact-checking activities aim to raise professional standards and fight disinformation. It positions itself in support of European standards on press freedom and pluralism, not as a representative of one Bulgarian political party.

A page from the U.S. Embassy in Romania describing a "Disinformation Awareness Campaign" advises readers to "check several sources" and "look at multiple sources to establish whether what we’ve read in the media is an opinion, fake, or fact." It frames U.S. embassy disinformation work in the region as encouraging use of multiple, independent sources, critical thinking, and verification, rather than reliance on a single political viewpoint or outlet.

A Euractiv analysis of Bulgaria’s media environment notes that major outlets, including public media, face pressures and ownership influences, but it also highlights initiatives like Factcheck.bg and BNR’s fact-checking efforts as part of a broader civil-society and journalistic attempt to counter disinformation. The article situates these projects within a wider ecosystem of EU-backed and independent media initiatives rather than a single-party communication apparatus.

Reporters Without Borders’ 2023 World Press Freedom Index entry on Bulgaria describes the country’s media landscape as suffering from concentrated ownership and political influence, leading to editorial pressure and self-censorship. At the same time, RSF notes the emergence of independent projects and NGOs working on media freedom and disinformation, such as the Association of European Journalists-Bulgaria. This context suggests multiple competing influences rather than a single unified political viewpoint across all fact-checking initiatives.

The official website of the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria (bg.usembassy.gov) provides contact information, consular services, and general embassy news, but does not present a dedicated section describing an embassy-run fact-checking program, its editorial policy, or the specific political viewpoints of sources used in any fact-checking content.[6] For media and press inquiries, it lists a general press email address, suggesting that communications and public diplomacy are handled through standard embassy channels rather than a separate, codified fact-checking methodology.[6]

In general, U.S. embassies’ public diplomacy and media literacy materials worldwide often promote third-party fact-checking resources, including local independent platforms, public broadcasters, and international agencies, as part of efforts to counter disinformation and strengthen media literacy. These selections are typically framed in terms of credibility and alignment with international journalistic standards, not in terms of endorsing a specific local party or faction.

The U.S. Embassy Sofia page on nonimmigrant visas outlines procedural requirements for applicants, such as the need for certified translations into English and how to submit additional documentation.[11] It does not reference any fact-checking content or editorial standards, indicating that consular sections operate according to visa regulations rather than political content verification practices.[11]