Publication Policy

The following principles and criteria guide all stages of ACF’s investigative work:

Ethical Principles

ACF is committed to ethical principles corresponding to the organization’s mission of combating corruption, strengthening the rule of law, empowering the civic sector and supporting good governance.

Independence

ACF works in the public interest and does not endorse political or ideological goals, neither does it promote political or business interests.

ACF does not accept funds and donations from individuals or organizations whose values are not in line with ACF’s mission or threaten its independence and integrity.

ACF maintains full independence from government, political parties, corporate interests, donors and any private interests. All investigations and publications are based on evidence, verifiable data, and a commitment to the public interest.

Integrity

ACF observes national and international law and avoids conflicts of interest within the organization.

ACF’s experts are bound by professional codes of ethics and conduct, including the Ethical Code of Bulgarian Media.

ACF Board and team members are bound by the internal rules and the core values of the organisation.

Confidentiality

ACF receives reports and tip-offs (including anonymous ones) concerning suspected corruption and conflicts of interest.

ACF takes due care to protect its sources and external experts.

Expertise

ACF maintains high professional standards to ensure investigations are conducted impartially.

Investigations and legal analyses are performed responsibly, objectively and impartially.

Balance

ACF ensures all parties affected by an investigation are provided with the right to comment and that the organisation’s coverage of a case is balanced and proportionate.

Transparency

ACF publishes the documents, supporting its investigations whilst ensuring the safety of its sources.

Accuracy and fact-checking

All reports must be thoroughly researched, fact-checked, and corroborated by multiple trustworthy sources: witness reports, official statements, internal documents, public databases, etc.

Public interest

All publications must serve the public interest and contribute to transparency, accountability, integrity and anti-corruption efforts.

Ethical Journalism

Investigations must adhere to professional ethical standards, respecting privacy, the presumption of innocence, and fair reporting.

Non-partisanship

ACF does not support or promote any political party or program, any corporate or individual interest, other than the public interest. All findings must be based solely on facts and evidence.

Procedure for Conducting Investigation

The ACF team gathers information as follows: reports and tip-offs from whistleblowers; media monitoring; investigative field work; requesting information as per the Freedom of Information Act; regular monitoring of public databases, such as pubic procurement registers, commercial and property registers, etc.;

All reports are reviewed and screened by the analysts, lawyers, and investigative journalists, who apply the following set of criteria:

1. The case falls in the statutory scope of activity of the organization, namely anti-corruption and conflicts of interest investigations, inquiries, and analyses.

2. The implicated individuals are high-ranking public officials: the president and vice president, ministers, MPs, magistrates, heads of independent public institutions with regulatory functions, heads of state-owned companies, regional governors, mayors, high-ranking politicians, and persons closely associated with them.

3. The suspected violation negatively impacts on significant public interest (e.g., causing major financial damage to public funds), human rights or increases risks to public safety and security.

4. The case reveals systemic issues in exercising public power (executive, judicial, legislative) or within the existing or proposed legal framework (corruption risks, loopholes) or pertains to a corruption issue in a critical public sector (such as energy, healthcare, construction, defense, security, etc.), or it is a clear example of nepotism.

5. The case provides specific information (facts, data, evidence, documents) regarding alleged corrupt behaviour, or such specific information can be obtained through the resources available to a civil society organisation.

6. The case introduces new data and information not already covered by an official institutional investigation (such as an ongoing criminal case, court proceedings, or an independent authority’s investigation), unless the new information concerns the mishandling or stagnation of such official processes.

The ACF will only proceed with an investigation if it meets Criteria 1, 5, and 6, as well as at least two of Criteria 2, 3, and 4. The ACF team will exclude cases where the statute of limitations for criminal or administrative prosecution has expired, unless they are needed to highlight ongoing trends of (continuous) wrongdoing. The ACF board monitors adherence to ethical standards and ACF’s publication policy.