Reception image of Russia in Bulgarian media

Abstract

The article deals with the interstate relations between Russia and Bulgaria, reflected in the modern Bulgarian media. The article deals with the topics that affect the historical relations between Bulgaria and Russia, namely the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878, the The article deals with the interstate relations between Russia and Bulgaria, reflected in modern Bulgarian media. The article analyzes the topics that affect the historical relations between Bulgaria and Russia, namely the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878, the liberation of Bulgaria from fascism at the end of World War II and the socialist development of Bulgaria in the period 1944–1989. Attention is drawn to the division of civil society into Russophiles and Russophobes and their interpretation and attitude to the mentioned historical events, which found a place in the media. The authors’ materials are examined, which have a polar attitude to the interpretation of Russian-Bulgarian relations. The most striking cases of a negative attitude are given. The reasons for the negative assessment on the pages of such newspapers are closely related to the different interpretations of Bulgarian history and its relationship with Russia over the centuries. The stylistic aspect of the empirical material is considered, the stylistic methods used by the authors to express their attitude to the subject of speech are highlighted. Social and political practice proves that the attitude to Russia is dictated by ideological rather than pragmatic attitudes. Analysis of the material illustrates that several newspapers have a sharply negative attitude towards Russia and the Russians. In the linguistic aspect, these newspapers use invective vocabulary and, in general, they are characterized by the creation of the image of the occupier and the enemy in the face of Russia. Such an attitude is in sync with the actions of Russia’s enemies on a European and global scale. However, sociological studies and mass media practice in modern Bulgaria indicate that in the public space the image of Russia remains close to Bulgarians.