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Margarita Mihneva

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Bulgarian investigative journalist and presenter (1952–2024)

Margarita Dimitrova Mihneva (Bulgarian: Маргарита Михнева; 21 April 1952 –16 December 2024) was one of Bulgaria's first investigative journalists. She was a pioneer for women in Bulgarian journalism, and one of the country's most recognizable television presenters and reporters.

Biography

The main building of the Bulgarian National Television, where Mihneva found her first job in journalism.

Mihneva was born on 21 April 1952, in Sofia. In 1974, she graduated from Sofia University with a degree in law. After graduation, she applied for a position with Bulgarian National Television, securing one of two places against 150 different candidates.

In 1975, she started working at Bulgarian National Television, working on the programs: Labor, Interests and Law, Current Antenna, Surveys and Panorama.

In 1989 Mihneva covered the "Revival Process" and the "Big Excursion", Bulgarian campaigns directed at ethnic Turks in Bulgaria.

From 1992 to 1999, Mihneva hosted the show Conflicts on Bulgarian National Television. The program, produced on a low budget achieved high ratings by addressing issues such as government corruption, moral leadership and Bulgarian democracy. Mihneva described her work, "Journalistic investigation is a deadly battle with power - both then and now."

Mihneva was often subject to legal suits due to her investigative reporting, with her home and business being seized to support legal cases against her. She made history by becoming the first Bulgarian journalist to win lawsuits against a newspaper editor and a television director.

BNT's Panorama programme, which Mihneva appeared on.

She was highly critical of corruption in Bulgarian politics and business, themes that would regularly appear in her reporting and make her a figure of contention in Bulgarian society. Among the figures she sought to expose in her reporting was Tsvetan Vassilev, whose Corporate Commercial Bank collapsed in 2014 after a bank run. In 2018, she was found culpable by the Supreme Court of Cassation of defamation against fellow journalist Sonya Koltuklieva, whom Mihneva reported had paid off Vassilev to promote good press about his company before it collapsed.

Mihneva's outspoken character and visibility on news programmes made her a highly public character in Bulgaria, where her personal life and legal concerns were a regular news item. She claimed to have been fired from roles as a journalist 11 times for her reporting, and after her last dismissal had retired and was living on a small pension. After retiring from journalism, she would often appear on Bulgarian television in guest spots as a panelist and presenter.

In 2017 she reportedly was invited to participate in VIP Brother, Bulgaria's version of Big Brother, but turned it down. In her later years she was supported by her daughter who had emigrated to Switzerland.

Personal life

Mihneva married professional tennis player, ski and golf star Petar Mikhnev and had a daughter, who would become a Bulgarian tennis champion. The couple later divorced.

In the early 2000s, Mihneva was diagnosed and was treated for breast cancer. She underwent her first cancer surgery at age 50. At the time, she claimed the stress of her work was making her sick.

In 2021, Mihneva was diagnosed with bone cancer, two decades after successfully fighting breast cancer. She underwent emergency surgery, which resulted in the removal of three ribs. After her diagnosis, she committed herself to continuing her career while fighting cancer for a second time. Mihneva's second cancer battle depleted her mental and physical health.

Death

Margarita Mikhneva died from cancer on 16 December 2024 at the age of 72 in Geneva, Switzerland.

After her death, the president of Bulgaria Rumen Radov expressed his condolences to the family, "Her professionalism as a journalist and presenter remains a shining example for future generations, who had dedicated themselves to the mission of upholding truth and justice..."

References

  1. ^ "Margarita Mikhneva has died". Fakti.bg - Да извадим фактите наяве (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Trailblazing Bulgarian Journalist Margarita Mihneva Passes Away at 72". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  3. Иванова, Галя (16 December 2024). "Почина журналистката Маргарита Михнева". Informiran.net (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  4. "Почина журналистката Маргарита Михнева". Mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). 16 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Тежък и дълъг рак над 20 години отне Маргарита Михнева от живота". www.24chasa.bg. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  6. Nikolova, Iva (26 November 2014). "Маргарита Михнева направи скандални разкрития за Цветан Василев". Razkritia.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  7. Борисова, Силвия (16 January 2019). "ВКС осъди Маргарита Михнева за клевета: Соня Колтуклиева ликува! (още подробности)". Razkritia.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  8. Nikolova, Iva (5 June 2022). "Какво се случва с Маргарита Михнева?". Razkritia.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  9. Lisa (23 May 2017). "Маргарита Михнева си живее живота в Швейцария (Вижте как се уреди)". Razkritia.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  10. Lisa (20 April 2018). "Маргарита Михнева се върна от Швейцария свежа и подмладена (Вижте я преди и сега)". Razkritia.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  11. "Роди се второ внуче на Маргарита Михнева". skandal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  12. Nikolova, Iva (5 January 2020). "Маргарита Михнева се взе за…". Razkritia.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  13. "Маргарита Михнева и Тити Папазов - в семейния съвет на "Цената на истината"". Lifestyle.bg (in Bulgarian). 21 October 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  14. ^ Тенев, Станимир (29 July 2017). "Маргарита Михнева отказа да се върне на екран". Razkritia.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  15. "Първият съпруг на Михнева я изпрати с пост във фейсбук, без да споменава името й". www.24chasa.bg. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  16. ^ Николова, Иванина (16 July 2023). "Рак на костите застигна Маргарита Михнева". Razkritia.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  17. "Внуците на Маргарита Михнева растат щастливи, но извън Бъ;гария (СНИМКИ)". Varna24.bg (in Bulgarian). 14 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  18. Николова, Иванина (16 February 2024). "Маргарита Михнева не прилича на себе си, ракът я стопи до 40 килограма". Razkritia.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  19. Николова, Иванина (28 December 2023). "Михнева затворена в психиатрия". Razkritia.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  20. "Румен Радев изрази съболезнования на семейството и близките на Маргарита Михнева". www.24chasa.bg. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
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