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  • Overview
  • Hate crimes - Official data
  • ODIHR's key observations
  • Hate incidents - Unofficial data
  • International reports
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Bulgaria

Bulgaria regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Bulgaria implemented ODIHR's Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme from 2012 until 2017. Bulgaria also took part in ODIHR's project on "Building a Comprehensive Criminal Justice Response to Hate Crime", helping to develop a joint training programme for police and prosecutors that was piloted in the country. Bulgaria has also made efforts to improve hate crime identification, recording and data collection through ODIHR's Information Against Hate Crimes Toolkit (INFAHCT) programme. ODIHR completed a review of Bulgaria’s hate crime legislation in 2018.  

Hate crime data collection in Bulgaria
Support for hate crime victims in Bulgaria
Access more information at the Legislation Online website Legislationline TANDIS Access more information at the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System (TANDIS) website

SELECT YEAR

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OFFICIAL DATA

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2021 18 384 303
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 2010 Data

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

Hate crime recorded by police

National developments

The Commission on the Protection against Discrimination was tasked by the government with reviewing its laws for compliance with the EU Framework Decision. The Commission stated that improvements should be made to current legislation to ensure that racist or xenophobic motivations are considered as possible aggravating circumstances for all crimes, as they currently have limited application in the Bulgarian Criminal Code.

The Office of the Grand Mufti and the Director of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination, invited ODIHR to Sofia for an assessment visit to explore potential training activities with government officials and civil society. The Interior Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with ODIHR for joint  implementation of ODIHR's police training programme on hate crime, TAHCLE, in the Bulgarian police academy in 2011.

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.

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

Reports

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The Office of the Grand Mufti reported graffiti displaying anti-Turkish sentiments on a mosque and a school.

read more ›

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria reported two cases of the desecration of cemeteries and five cases of graffiti, three of which targeted a Holocaust memorial statue. 

The Stephen Roth Institute reported one hate incident.

read more ›

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Human Rights First reported one arson attack on a mosque.

The Office of the Grand Mufti reported one arson attack, three cases of damage to property and three cases of graffiti targeting mosques and Muslim cemeteries.

read more ›

Developments

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The Socialist Party’s Youth Association Campaign organized a series of “Clean Start in History” days, on which young people removed swastikas and anti-Semitic slogans from monuments and historical sites.

read more ›

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

No information is available.
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2022 HCR Call for Submissions_in focus image

2022 Call for Civil Society Submissions

14 Feb 2023
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HCRW announcement banner

2021 Hate Crime Data Now Available!

16 Nov 2022
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ODIHR's impact in 2021: Marking 15 years of reporting hate crimes

12 Apr 2022
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ODIHR's impact in 2021: Lifting up indigenous voices to counter racism and promote diversity and inclusion

01 Apr 2022
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ODIHR's impact in 2021: Delivering tools to support hate crime victims

24 Mar 2022
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Call for submissions image.png

2021 Call for Civil Society Submissions

16 Feb 2022
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2020 Announcement Page

2020 Hate Crime Data Now Available!

15 Nov 2021
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FAQ.png

Hate Crime Data: Frequently Asked Questions

15 Nov 2021
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Steps to Meet Hate Crime Victims' Needs

ODIHR's impact in 2020: Strengthening Support for Hate Crime Victims

16 Apr 2021
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10 practical steps to respond to the security needs of Muslim communities

ODIHR's impact in 2020: A holistic and inclusive response to anti-Muslim hate crimes

15 Apr 2021

Contact Us

Email tndinfo@odihr.pl
Tel +48 22 520 06 00
Fax +48 22 520 06 05
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department
Ul. Miodowa 10
00-251
Warsaw, Poland

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