The Padlock anti-award was given to the Municipality of Vidin for persistent practices to refuse access to information to citizens and journalists who have to fight against the refusals in the court.  Even members of the Municipal Council have to file FOI requests to obtain information from the mayor.

No representative of the municipality appeared to receive the award. However, AIP coordinator in Vidin, Ms. Anelia Slaveikova, took the Padlock and will present it to the mayor of the municipality.

A Dishonorary Diploma was given to the Municipality of Yambol. The Municipality of Yambol is infamous for its practices to silently refuse information to citizens, journalists, and even members of the Municipal Council. The latter also have to sue the mayor for access to public information. The web site of the institution lacks information subject to active publication. Finally, the municipality did not hold a public discussion and had not assigned an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project “reconstruction of the City Park,” under which a number of old trees were cut down. Not surprisingly, no one from the Municipality of Yambol was present to receive the diploma.

Mr. Dimitar Dimitrov, a citizen from the town of Yambol, and also a nominee in the category for a citizen, took the diploma to present it to the mayor.