Bulgaria

Bulgaria regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Bulgaria's hate crime laws are a combination of specific penalty enhancements and substantive offences. The data reported to ODIHR do not present separately cases of hate crime, incitement to hatred and discrimination. The authorities responsible for collecting hate crime data are the Interior Ministry's Co-ordination, Information and Analysis Directorate; the Supreme Judicial Council's Commission on Professional qualification, IT and statistics; the Supreme Court of Cassation's Criminal College; the Supreme Prosecutor of Cassation's Analysis Unit; and the National Statistical Institute.

SELECT YEAR

OFFICIAL DATA

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2020	727	353	289
2019	22	432	155
2018	46	6	158
2017	22	9	9
2016	28	299	71
2015	704	752	135
2014	617	750	117
2013	651	300	239
2012	Not available	Not available	Not available
2011	29	41	10
2010	20	34	4
2009	20	22	9

About 2009 Data

Figures include crimes of incitement to hatred and crimes of discrimination.

By bias motivation
By type of crime

Download official data

National developments

Provisions in the penal code were amended and supplemented in 2009. The amendments increased potential sentences in specific provisions for crimes involving violence and property damage committed on the grounds of “nationality, race, religion or political conviction”.

As part of the government’s efforts to strengthen data collection and the response of law-enforcement bodies and prosecutors to hate crimes, the Independent Commission for Protection against Discrimination started compiling information relating to new and completed criminal proceedings related to such crimes.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Anti-Semitic hate crime, Anti-Muslim hate crime

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) raised concerns over anti-Semitism and intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in Bulgaria.