# Elena Yoncheva

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Bulgarian journalist

In this [Bulgarian name](/source/Bulgarian_name), the [patronymic](/source/Patronymic) is *Nikolova* and the [family name](/source/Surname) is *Yoncheva*.

Elena Yoncheva MEP Official portrait, 2024 Member of the European Parliament for Bulgaria Incumbent Assumed office 2 July 2019 Member of the National Assembly In office 19 April 2017 – 1 July 2019 Personal details Born Elena Nikolova Yoncheva (1964-05-27) 27 May 1964 (age 62) Sofia, Bulgaria Party DPS (2024–present) Other political affiliations BSP (2017–2024) Domestic partner Sergey Stanishev (1994–2009) Alma mater Moscow State University Occupation Journalist • Politician

**Elena Nikolova Yoncheva** ([Bulgarian](/source/Bulgarian_language): Елена Николова Йончева; born 27 May 1964) is a [Bulgarian](/source/Bulgaria) [freelance](/source/Freelancer) [journalist](/source/Journalist) and politician who has been serving as a [Member of the European Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_European_Parliament) since [2019](/source/2019_European_Parliament_election_in_Bulgaria).[1]

A former [Bulgarian National Television](/source/Bulgarian_National_Television) correspondent, Yoncheva has reported from many conflict areas, and has authored more than 25 TV documentaries on these conflicts.

## Early life

Yoncheva was born on 27 May 1964 in [Sofia](/source/Sofia), to a Bulgarian father, Nikola, and a Russian mother, Larisa.[2] She datеd [Sergey Stanishev](/source/Sergey_Stanishev), former [Prime Minister of Bulgaria](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Bulgaria), between 1994 and 2009; they had known each other since their student years in [Moscow](/source/Moscow), [Russia](/source/Russia).[3]

## Career in journalism

Yoncheva has reported from [Kosovo](/source/Kosovo), [Algeria](/source/Algeria), [Chechnya](/source/Chechnya), [Israel](/source/Israel), [Somalia](/source/Somalia), [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan), [Iraq](/source/Iraq), [Venezuela](/source/Venezuela), [Colombia](/source/Colombia) and other hot spots. Yoncheva has also authored a documentary on the [Bulgarian Antarctic base](/source/St._Kliment_Ohridski_Base), the [Roma](/source/Roma_in_Bulgaria) in [Lom](/source/Lom%2C_Bulgaria) and on other topics.

After filming the [war in Donbas](/source/War_in_Donbas) she was informed that she was not allowed to enter the country anymore. While covering the [Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War) in 2003, she was captured by armed civilians, but was quickly rescued by an Iraqi official and did not suffer serious injuries.[4] In June 2013, she was injured by a [tear-gas grenade](/source/Teargas_grenade_gun) while reporting from [Istanbul](/source/Istanbul), [Turkey](/source/Turkey).[5]

In 2008, she became a participant in [bTV](/source/BTV_(Bulgaria))'s television series *[Dancing Stars](/source/Dancing_with_the_Stars)*. Since October 2013, she is co-anchor of TV7's show *The Original*, together with [Ivan Garelov](/source/Ivan_Garelov).

### Documentaries

Source[6]

- *Sarajevo* *(September 1993)*

- *Albania Today* (November 1993)

- *The New Colors of South Africa* (May 1994)

- *The White Wolves* (November 1995) -Covers "foreign mercenaries and volunteers from Russia, Bulgaria, France in the Special Actions Unit of the [Serb Army](/source/Serbian_Army_of_Krajina) in Bosnia"

- *Terror* (January 1996) - Covers the [First Chechen War](/source/First_Chechen_War)

- *Welcome to Afghanistan* (December 1996)

- *Anatomy of Horror* (April 1998) - Covers [Islamist](/source/Islamism) Fundamentalist terrorism in Algeria

- *Border Line* (April 1999) - Covers "the development of the Kosovo crisis"

- *Shto Sakash? (What do you want?)* *(July 2001)* -Covers "the conflict with NLA - [National Liberation Army](/source/National_Liberation_Army_(Macedonia)) in Macedonia"

- *Join the Team (The Game)* (2002)-Six-part mini-series covering the lives of [Bulgarian Roma](/source/Romani_people_in_Bulgaria)

- *The Border* - A denouncement the trafficking of migrants through [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria), which is allegedly facilitated by Bulgarian authorities.[7]

## Member of the European Parliament, 2019–present

Yoncheva was elected to the [European Parliament](/source/European_Parliament) on the [Bulgarian Socialist Party](/source/Bulgarian_Socialist_Party) ticket, during the [2019 European Parliament election in Bulgaria](/source/2019_European_Parliament_election_in_Bulgaria).[8] As part of her campaign for a Member of the European Parliament, she shared evidence allegedly proving [corruption](/source/Corruption) in the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture.[9]

In parliament, Yoncheva is a member of the [Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs](/source/Committee_on_Civil_Liberties%2C_Justice_and_Home_Affairs) and the [Subcommittee on Security and Defence](/source/European_Parliament_Subcommittee_on_Security_and_Defence). She is also member of the Democracy, Rule of Law & Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group.[10]

In addition to her committee assignments, Yoncheva is part of the parliament's delegations for relations with Israel and to the Parliamentary Assembly of the [Union for the Mediterranean](/source/Union_for_the_Mediterranean).[11]

Yoncheva was the chair of an inter-institutional negotiation group meant to agree to the details of the [EU Migration Pact](/source/EU_Migration_Pact) and pass it through the European Parliament.[12]

She was nominated as a candidate for MEP from the [DPS](/source/Movement_for_Rights_and_Freedoms) political party in the [2024 European Parliament election](/source/2024_European_Parliament_election_in_Bulgaria).[13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Home | Elena YONCHEVA | MEPs | European Parliament"](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197842/ELENA_YONCHEVA/home). *www.europarl.europa.eu*. 1964-05-27. Retrieved 2024-04-22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Home | Elena YONCHEVA | MEPs | European Parliament"](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197842/ELENA_YONCHEVA/home). *www.europarl.europa.eu*. 1964-05-27. Retrieved 2025-08-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Елена Йончева призна, че е разделена със Станишев"](http://www.mediapool.bg/elena-yoncheva-prizna-che-e-razdelena-sas-stanishev-news156235.html). mediapool.bg. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2014-07-11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Petrov, Plamen. ["The Bulgarian Press on the War in Iraq"](http://www.worldpress.org/Europe/1047.cfm). Worldpress.org, April 15, 2003. Retrieved 2006-07-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Elena Yoncheva was injured by a tear-gas grenade in Istanbul"](http://www.dnevnik.bg/bulgaria/2013/06/17/2083279_elena_ioncheva_beshe_ranena_ot_sulzotvorna_granata_v/). Dnevnik. Retrieved 2013-09-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Elena Yoncheva"](https://web.archive.org/web/20051223080633/http://www.undp.bg/en/rmtl_elena_yoncheva.php). United Nations Development Program. Archived from [the original](http://www.undp.bg/en/rmtl_elena_yoncheva.php) on December 23, 2005. Retrieved 2006-07-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Elena Yoncheva presented her film on human trafficking"](https://dariknews.bg/novini/bylgariia/elena-ioncheva-predstavi-film-za-trafika-na-bezhanci-2060546). Darik News. 13 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Европейски парламент :: Европейски парламент 2019"](https://results.cik.bg/ep2019/mandati/index.html). *results.cik.bg*. Retrieved 2019-05-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Opposition BSP MP Elena Yoncheva Accused Minister of Culture of Corruption"](https://www.novinite.com/articles/194861/Opposition+BSP+MP+Elena+Yoncheva+Accused+Minister+of+Culture+of+Corruption). Novinite.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Democracy, Rule of Law & Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group, 2019–2024](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/214942/LIBE%20DFRMG%20-%20Members.pdf) [European Parliament](/source/European_Parliament).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Elena Yoncheva on EP's website"](http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197842/ELENA_YONCHEVA/home). Website of the European Parliament. 27 May 1964.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Elena Yoncheva on EP's website"](https://www.24chasa.bg/bulgaria/article/16961321). 24chasa. 1 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Пеевски повежда листите на ДПС в Кърджали и Благоевград, Чакъров става водач на евролистата"](https://www.dnevnik.bg/izbori-2024/2024/05/06/4622287_peevski_povejda_listite_na_dps_v_kurdjali_i/?ref=home_layer2). *Dnevnik.bg* (in Bulgarian). 2024-05-06.

## External links

- ["CD Portfolio for Elena Yoncheva"](http://www.elido.com/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?s=001&p=0012&n=000093&g=). Elido Media (LAMEL Ltd.). Retrieved 2006-07-07.

- Nacheva, Velina (2003-01-16). ["Between terrorists, apartheid and MPS"](http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/between-terrorists-apartheid-and-mps/id_6254/catid_32). [The Sofia Echo](/source/The_Sofia_Echo). Retrieved 2006-07-07.

- [European Union portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:European_Union)

Elena Yoncheva navigational boxes v t e Current members of the European Parliament from Bulgaria (2019–2024) Ademov (EPP) Dzhambazki (ECR) Glavak (EPP) Hristov (S&D) Ilčić (ECR) Jerković (S&D) Kanev (EPP) Kovatchev (EPP) Kyuchyuk (Renew) Maydell (EPP) Novakov (EPP) Penkova (S&D) Radev (EPP) Slabakov (ECR) Stanishev (S&D) Vitanov (S&D) Yoncheva (S&D) Yordanov (EPP) v t e List of members of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (2019–2024) Austria Heide Muigg Regner Schieder Sidl Belgium Arena Van Brempt Bulgaria Hristov Penkova Stanishev Vitanov Yoncheva Croatia Borzan Jerković Matić Picula Cyprus Mavrides Papadakis Czech Republic Maxová Denmark Fuglsang Schaldemose Vind Estonia Kaljurand Mikser Finland Heinäluoma Kumpula-Natri France Clergeau Durand Glucksmann Guillaume Lalucq Larrouturou Mebarek Germany Barley Bischoff Bullmann Burkhardt Geier Kammerevert Köster Krehl Lange Lucke Noichl Repasi Rudner Schuster Sippel Wölken Greece Papandreou Hungary Ara-Kovács Dobrev Molnár Rónai Ujhelyi Italy Bartolo Benifei Bresso Castro Chinnici Covassi Cozzolino Gualmini Laureti Moretti Picierno Pisapia Roberti Rondinelli Smeriglio Tinagli Toia Variati Latvia Ameriks Ušakovs Lithuania Blinkevičiūtė Olekas Luxembourg Angel Malta Cutajar Engerer Saliba Sant Netherlands Chahim Jongerius Reuten Tang Tax Wolters Poland Balt Belka Biedroń Cimoszewicz Kohut Liberadzki Miller Portugal Albuquerque Carvalhais Cerdas Leitão Marques Marques Pereira Pizarro Santos Zorrinho Romania Avram Benea Ciuhodaru Crețu Grapini Manda Negrescu Nica Plumb Tudose Slovakia Beňová Hajšel Slovenia Brglez Nemec Spain Amor Ballarin Blanco Casares Devesa J. L. Fernández J. Fernández Ferrandis Gálvez I. García C. A. García Gardiazabal Ginel González López López Aguilar Luena Maestre Moreno Muñoz Rodríguez-Piñero Sempere Sweden De Basso Fritzon Glanzelius Incir Ohlsson

Authority control databases: People MEP directory

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Elena Yoncheva](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Yoncheva) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Yoncheva?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.