Founded in 2022, the Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship (CIDC) at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) addresses critical challenges at the intersection of technology, information integrity, and democratic governance.
As a hub of interdisciplinary research, education, and public engagement, the CIDC is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to navigate the complexities of the digital age with confidence and critical acumen. Through pioneering initiatives in cognitive security, countering malign influence operations, and promoting digital literacy, the CIDC aims to cultivate a global society resilient against misinformation and equipped to uphold the principles of democracy and informed citizenship. Leveraging AUBG’s rich academic resources and its vibrant, diverse community, the CIDC fosters international collaboration and cultural dialogue, making significant contributions to the global discourse on democracy in the digital era.
Mission
Vision
Strategic Challenges
CIDC’s work addresses three critical challenges facing modern democracies:
The Disengagement of Youth from Civic Processes
The Proliferation of Disinformation Campaigns
The CIDC has five programmatic focal areas. Our projects are designed and implemented within each area to achieve the center’s mission.
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At the CIDC, our goal is to forge communities that can stand resilient in the face of disinformation and cognitive threats. Through research, policy advocacy, and educational programs, we aim to enhance media literacy and psychological resilience, equipping individuals and societies with the tools needed to effectively prevent and counter foreign information and malign influence operations.
Projects:
- CIDC-Sensika Disinformation Observatory
- Be MediaWise Bulgaria
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Building a strong foundation for democratic citizenship is essential to fostering active and informed participation in civic life. But it all starts with building a robust vision of democracy: its promise and possibilities. The CIDC leverages immersive technologies and online platforms to envision democracy’s promise, ensuring scalable and impactful civic education and community engagement.
Projects:
- Advocacy Academy
- Platform for Youth Dialogue and Participation
- You(TH) Participate: Innovating Civic Engagement in Bulgaria Through Deliberative Democracy
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Factual media is a critical component of democracy and informed citizenship. By leveraging innovative technologies, we seek to empower individuals and media organizations regionally and globally with the skills and tools needed to critically evaluate information and news content and contribute to a more informed public discourse. The CIDC’s Factual media advocacy initiatives address the critical need for reliable information.
Projects:
- English for Journalists
- Christo Grozev Fellowship for Courageous Journalism
- Bulgaria International Journalism Fellowship
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We are committed to transdisciplinary approaches to unravel and address the complex challenges threatening democracy today. By promoting collaboration across academic disciplines, policymakers, and practitioners, and offering practical learning experiences to students, the CIDC seeks to cultivate a generation of leaders who are not only civically engaged and ethically grounded but also adept at navigating the digital landscape with integrity and foresight.
Projects:
- AI Aware Universities
- IN-LOCO
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Faculty and students are the bedrock of AUBG. The CIDC will provide the tools and means to support, expand, and scale up faculty and student-led initiatives that enhance the academic environment and foster innovation.
Projects:
- Civic and Community Engagement Fund
- DemPro
Build Thought Leadership, Advocacy, and Policy Influence
Integrate Ethics, Democracy, and Civic Participation Across the Curriculum
Expand Academic and Co-curricular Programs
Build a Sustainable Ecosystem for Innovation and Research
Christo Grozev ('95), Chair
Christo Grozev is a Bulgarian investigative journalist and author. He is the head of investigations with The Insider and former lead Russia investigator with Bellingcat. His investigations into the identity of the suspects involved in the 2018 poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal earned him and his team the European Press Prize for Investigative Journalism. Grozev was featured heavily in the 2022 documentary Navalny, which covered the title figure's poisoning. The film earned him the Best Documentary Award at the 95th Academy Awards ceremony.
Amy Johnston
Amy Johnston joins the CIDC Advisory Council after a distinguished military career of 31 years as a retired Brigadier General in the U.S. Army. Her career is marked by a series of senior-level overseas assignments that focused on communications, strategy, and operations in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including JTF-160 Operation Sea Signal – Guantanamo Bay, TF All American Hurricane Katrina – New Orleans, and Multi-National Forces Iraq –Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mrs. Johnston's commitment to service continues through her volunteer work. Passionately involved in a therapy team with her dog, Duke, she provides therapeutic outreach to active and retired military personnel, and actively contributes to environmental conservation in her community.
Zach Pagovski ('11)
Zach Pagovski is the Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at Foreign Policy magazine. Previously, he managed strategic partnerships at the German Marshall Fund and held roles at NATO Association of Canada, the UN, and the Government of Macedonia. A recipient of multiple fellowships and awards, Pagovski holds an M.A. in International Affairs from American University and a B.A. from the American University in Bulgaria. He is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Project Management Professional (PMP).
Merle Maigre
Merle Maigre is the Head of the Cybersecurity Competence Center at the e-Governance Academy. She previously led NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence and advised Estonian Presidents on security policy. With experience at NATO HQ, ICDS, and Estonia’s Ministry of Defense, she is a leader in cybersecurity and international security. Maigre holds degrees from King’s College London, Middlebury College, and Tartu University and has been honored with multiple international awards.
Ambassador Delfin Pllana
Ambassador Delfin Pllana is the current Ambassador of Kosovo to Hungary. He has an extensive academic background, including an MSc in International Relations, an Executive MBA, and is pursuing a PhD. His career in Kosovo's diplomatic service began in 2009, and he has held several key positions, such as Deputy Head of Mission in Hungary and Sofia, and Director of Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora. Before his diplomatic career, he worked with various international organizations and NGOs.
Dr. Velizar Shalamanov
Dr. Velizar Shalamanov is the Head of Bulgaria’s delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and Bulgaria's former Defence Minister (Aug-Nov 2014). With a career spanning the Bulgarian Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence, NATO agencies, and academia, he has contributed to defense modernization, cybersecurity, and NATO integration. He is currently a Deputy Director at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Director of Defence Capabilities at the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria.
Albena Kehayova (EMBA '16)
Albena Kehayova is the Director of Communications and Marketing at AUBG, where she leads strategic communication efforts to enhance the university’s brand. With extensive experience in marketing and PR, she previously worked in the pharmaceutical sector as a product manager. Kehayova holds an EMBA ('16) from AUBG.
Atanas Politov
Atanas Politov is Dentons’ Europe Director of Positive Impact and Pro Bono, based in Budapest. He leads the firm’s pro bono initiatives and previously headed its Diversity & Inclusion programs. Before Dentons, he directed PILnet’s pro bono and access to justice efforts, developing legal aid and anti-discrimination projects across Europe and beyond.
Mariana Katzarova
Mariana Katzarova is the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation. Between 2021 and 2022, Ms. Katzarova led the examination team of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, monitoring the situation of human rights in Belarus in the context of the 2020 presidential election. For a decade she headed the Amnesty International investigations of human rights in Russia and the two Chechnya conflicts, and with the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights, focused on the creation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. In 2006, after working in the war zones of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Katzarova founded RAW in WAR (Reach All Women in War) where she established the annual Anna Politkovskaya Award for women human rights defenders working in war and conflict zones.
