A series of social media posts by Bulgarian journalist Polina Paunova has recently caused significant controversy, drawing criticism from the Organisation of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom” and other Jewish organisations in the country and eliciting responses from both politicians and media figures.
The controversy began when journalist Polina Paunova shared a joke on Facebook that many deemed offensive. The joke involved her expressing a desire to marry an “old rich Jew” with the expectation of inheriting his wealth shortly after marriage. Despite numerous complaints from the Jewish community, the joke was widely circulated.
Alexander Oscar, President of the Organisation of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom,” publicly condemned the joke, labelling it as offensive and unacceptable. In response, Paunova’s supporters launched a barrage of insults against those who criticised the post.
Following the backlash, Paunova attempted to address the situation with a semi-apology, which was perceived by many as inadequate and dismissive. Matters were further complicated when Paunova shared images of herself and a friend wearing socks adorned with watermelon slices, along with a picture of a plate of watermelon slices. Since the events of October 7, 2023, watermelon slices have become associated with support for Hamas, leading many to view this as a deliberate provocation.
The incident prompted a formal response from five major organisations dedicated to combating antisemitism in the country:Organisation of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom”, the Central Israelite Spiritual Council, the Zionist Federation in Bulgaria, the Organisation of the Friends of Israel in Bulgaria “Negev,” and the local office of the American Jewish Committee.
These organisations sent a letter to Mr Ivo Prokopiev, owner of Economedia, expressing their concerns about Paunova’s posts and the insufficient response to their complaints.
Mr Prokopiev responded promptly, expressing full solidarity with the Jewish community and inviting its leaders to a meeting to discuss further actions. Despite this, the situation escalated when several MPs from the PPDB party defended Paunova, arguing that her posts should be defended due to her political affiliation, even if they were deemed inappropriate.
Five days after the initial scandal, Paunova deleted the offensive posts and issued an apology on her Facebook page, which was accepted by the Jewish organisations. However, the controversy continued as Paunova’s supporters continued to attack members of the Jewish community, exacerbating tensions.
The situation further intensified when journalist Sibina Grigorova, owner of the website “Boulevard Bulgaria,” posted on the social media platform X.
Grigorova suggested that the backlash against Paunova was part of a conspiracy involving the president of Organisation of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom” and the honorary leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) Mr Ahmed Dogan.
She claimed that the criticism of Paunova was a distraction from internal political issues within the DPS.
The spread of conspiracy theories involving the Jewish community is regarded as a serious issue. The Jewish organisations have expressed deep concern over the apparent lack of responsibility demonstrated by Bulgarian politicians and journalists in addressing and combating antisemitism and hate speech.
As the situation develops, the Jewish community continues to seek support from both national and international bodies to address these issues and foster a more inclusive and respectful public dialogue.
