Azerbaijani authorities proposed death sentence for Bulgarian journalist Tsvetana Paskaleva for her successful campaign aimed at releasing journalist Vardan Hovhannisyan from Azerbaijan’s prison, preparing TV report on Soviet and Azerbaijani forces’ occupation of Shahumyan region and shooting “Altitudes, Hopes” documentary (1991).
A journalist, director and scenario writer, Paskaleva thereafter created 6 documentary films devoted to Karabakh war.
“Any person committing himself/herself to the utmost difficult task of elucidating war events should be free from bias. Otherwise, he may not rely on God’s blessings. Had I pursued bias, Heaven would have punished me long ago,” Tsvetana Paskaleva said.
“My Dear Living and Dead”, a TV project authored by Bulgarian journalist, was broadcast by Armenian Central TV from 1995-97. Paskaleva’s courage to protect imprisoned Dashnak activists led to the closedown of the broadcast by the order of the then President L. Ter-Petrosyan. The second TV project – “Aspect” – was closed down in 2000 for the same reason.
Faced with the threat of death every single minute, I never thought about professional glory. But it came upon me, together with peoples love. But it’s very hard to hold on to it. All that requires strength and incessant work,” Paskaleva said, expressing her gratitude to Armenians for their reverence.
Tsvetana Paskaleva is a well-known Bulgarian journalist, director, scenario writer and film operator, as well as member of the International Documentary Association (Los Angeles). Since May 1991, she has shot documentaries about the interethnic conflicts between Armenians and Azeris. The following 7 films are devoted to Karabakh: “Altitudes, Hopes” (1991), “Will Morning Smile upon Karabakh?” (1992), “My Dear Living and Dead” (1993), “The Wounds of Karabakh” (1994), “Soldiers of Their Land” (1994), “Calmness” (1995), “Belief and Spirit” (devoted to the liberation of Shushi, 2001).
