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.

Hate crime data collection in Bulgaria
Support for hate crime victims in Bulgaria

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 2011 Data

    Figures include crimes of incitement to hatred and crimes of discrimination.
    The reported prosecuted cases were split on the basis of a Penal Code provision as follows: art. 162 - 21 cases, art. 163 - 4 cases, art. 164 - 15 cases, art. 172/1 - 1 case.

National developments

Bulgarian legislation was amended to increase the applicable penalty range for the specific crimes of homicide and bodily harm when committed due to racist or xenophobic motives. The criminal code already contains some hate crime provisions that prohibit the use of violence against a person or his or her property, as well as participating in a group attack against a person, because of his or her “race”, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or political conviction. These provisions were also amended to increase the applicable penalty range.

The Prosecutor General issued guidelines on investigation and prosecution of crimes against the equality of citizens.

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

Reports

Anti-Muslim hate crime

The Office of the Grand Mufti reported seven cases of graffiti, including four against mosques and three against the offices of the Grand Mufti; five cases of property damage, including four against mosques and one against graves; and nine physical assaults, three of which resulted in serious injury.

read more ›

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Anti-Roma hate crime

During the Universal Periodic Review, the Human Rights Council encouraged increased efforts to combat violence and discrimination against Roma in Bulgaria.

Anti-Muslim hate crime

The Human Rights Committee, overseeing implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, noted recent manifestations of intolerance against religious minorities, especially Muslims, in Bulgaria. The Committee further recommended that Bulgaria take measures to promote the prevention, prosecution and punishment of hate crimes, including against Muslims, and to conduct awareness-raising campaigns targeting both affected communities and society at large.

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.