Report Data - Bulgaria - 2015

Official Data

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2019	22	432	155
2018	46	6	158
2017	22	9	9
2016	28	299	71
2015	704	752	135

National developments

In 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with ODIHR and FRA, organized a workshop for police and other criminal justice agencies involved in recording hate crimes. The workshop produced a set of recommendations on improving hate crime registration, which were provided to the Ministry to be conveyed to the Bulgarian authorities for implementation.

A training on the "Investigation of hate crimes on homophobic and transphobic motives", organized by the LGBT youth organization Action, was held as part of a project funded by the American Bar Asssociation. The aim of the project was to increase sensitivity to the problems of the LGBTI community in Bulgaria and to improve the investigation of crimes committed against LGBTI people. Forty-seven officers (including investigative police officers, security police officers and criminal police operatives) from various District Police Directorates in the country were trained.

Hate crimes recorded by police

By bias motivation By type of crime

Download official data

NGO reports

Organization Report

The Office of Grand Mufti in Bulgaria reported an arson attack on a mosque; an incident of damage to another mosque, in which windows were broken; five incidents of vandalism involving Islamophobic graffiti on mosques and on the building housing the Grand Mufti’s offices, including one incident in which pork was scattered in front of a mosque; and the desecration of a mosque, in which a pig's head was hung on the minaret on the first day of Ramadan.

Organization Name

Office of the Grand Mufti of Bulgaria

Bias Motivation

Bias against Muslims

Description Type

Reports

Organization Report

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee reported a physical assault on a Roma child, who was shot in the chest by an air gun; one incident of threats against local Roma people via social media; and one robbery carried out by a group.

Organization Name

Bulgarian Helsinki Committee

Bias Motivation

Bias against Roma and Sinti

Description Type

Reports

Organization Report

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee reported two incidents of physical assaults on Jehovah's Witnesses.

Organization Name

Bulgarian Helsinki Committee

Bias Motivation

Bias against Christians and members of other religions

Description Type

Reports

Organization Report

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Human Rights First reported a physical assault on a Roma man and his two sons.

Organization Name

Anti-Defamation League

Bias Motivation

Bias against Roma and Sinti

Description Type

Reports

Organization Report

Jehovah's Witnesses – Bulgaria reported three physical assaults, including one involving the use of a weapon; and one incident of damage to property.

Organization Name

Jehovah's Witnesses - Bulgaria

Bias Motivation

Bias against Christians and members of other religions

Description Type

Reports

IGO Reports

Organization Name

United Nations Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Organization Report

Following its Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Bulgarian authorities made the commitment to examine and respond to recommendations to enhance efforts to ensure that hate crimes are effectively investigated and prosecuted, including those perpetrated against LGBT people, migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. Other such recommendations included encouraging the reporting and proper recording of hate crimes, strengthening data-collection systems and providing training on hate crimes to law enforcement and judicial authorities.

Bias Motivation

Racism and xenophobia

Bias against other groups - Sexual orientation or gender identity

Description Type

Developments

Organization Name

Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe

Organization Report

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, in the annual activity report following his country visit to Bulgaria, expressed concern at hate crimes targeting migrants and recommended that the authorities encourage reporting by victims and cease treating hate crimes as "hooliganism".

Bias Motivation

Racism and xenophobia

Description Type

Developments

ODIHR Recommendations

ODIHR observes that the law enforcement agencies of Bulgaria have not recorded the bias motivations of hate crimes.

National Developments

Description Type

Reports

Organization Report

Official figures recorded 704 crimes, of which three were homicides, 681 were physical assaults, ten were incitement to violence, three were desecration of graves and seven were attacks against places of worship

Overview of incidents reported by civil society groups and organizations

Mandated bias motivation

Bias against Roma and Sinti

#raw-data:Attack figures:;

Mandated bias motivation

Bias against Muslims

#raw-data:Attack figures:;

Mandated bias motivation

Bias against Christians and members of other religions

#raw-data:Attack figures:;

Search form

You are here