In 2014, the National Institute of Justice began discussions with ODIHR which will lead to implementation of the PAHCT programme in Bulgaria. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2015.
ODIHR and the Bulgarian Commission for Protection against Discrimination (CPD) began discussing possible improvements to hate crime recording in Bulgaria, with a view to organizing a series of workshops on the issue in 2015.
The Grand Mufti's Office reported two incidents of anti-Roma graffiti on a mosque.
The Grand Mufti's Office reported three incidents of graffiti on a mosque. The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee reported one threat made against the organization and two serious physical assaults, both carried out by a group: one against a woman of African descent, and the other against a man of African descent, his Bulgarian girlfriend and her daughter. Amnesty International reported two physical attacks carried out by groups.
The Grand Mufti's Office, Amnesty International and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee reported an incident of damage to property in which stones, rocks and fireworks were thrown at a mosque; and seven cases of graffiti on mosques. Amnesty International reported one additional incident in which stones and fireworks were thrown at a mosque.
Jehovah's Witnesses – Bulgaria reported seven incidents of physical assault, one of which involved an attack by a large group against participants in a religious ceremony, five incidents of damage to property, two incidents of graffiti on places of worship and seven incidents of threats, one of which involved a firearm.
World Without Nazism reported one incident of anti-Muslim graffiti.
World Without Nazism reported one incident of graffiti.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported two cases of threats: one in which three Syrian refugee families were forced to leave a village, and the other in which nine asylum seeking children were prevented from attending school.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bulgaria implemented a television, print and online media campaign against xenophobic attitudes.
In its fifth report, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recommended that the Bulgarian authorities include sexual orientation and gender identity in all the articles of the criminal code addressing hate speech and hate crime. It also recommended the collection of data on hate speech and hate crime against LGBT people, including on the number of cases reported, investigated and prosecuted.
ODIHR observes that the law enforcement agencies of Bulgaria have not recorded the bias motivations of hate crimes.