Pavlova’s car was set on fire in Dupnitsa, a city widely believed to be controlled by the Galevi brothers. Her son Ivan (22) was savagely beaten twice in the past four years.
The South East Europe Media Orgainsation (SEEMO) delegation met with the Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov in April, to discuss Pavlova’s safety. Oliver Vujovic, Secretary General of SEEMO, expressed his concerns about Pavlova’s safety, and urged Tsvetanov to “offer protection to Pavlova and guarantee her safety.”
Pavlova is the 2009 recipient of the Award for Courage in Journalism by the WAZ Media Group and the International Journalists Federation (IFJ), and the 2010 diploma for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism awarded by the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO).