Freedom of the Press/History/Country sources/Bulgaria
What is the oldest written source in this country that mentions this right?
Bulgaria
The first mention of freedom of the press appeared in Article 79 of the 1879 Tarnovo Constitution: "The Press is free; no censorship can be instituted, and no caution can be required from authors, editors, or publishers. If the author be well known and resides within the Principality no action can be brought against the editor, the publisher, or the salesman." Article 80 offered a modification concerning certain religious texts: "Holy Scripture, prayer-book, and catechisms destined for use in the churches of the Orthodox rite, as also treatises of ecclesiastical law destined for use in Orthodox schools, have to be previously submitted to the approval of the Holy Synod."
Today, press freedom is protected under Article 40 of the 1991 Constitution: “The press and the other mass information media shall be free and shall not be subjected to censorship” (Constitute Project, “Bulgaria's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2007” ).
References:
1879 Constitution of the Principality of Bulgaria: English translation of the Bulgarian original text of the Constitution of 1879 6 (2014) Chapter XII: The Subjects of the Principality of Bulgaria: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzbg0031&id=7&men_tab=srchresults
1991 Bulgaria Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bulgaria_2015?lang=en.