Introduction
UN experts raise concerns about excessive use of force targeting Roma
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has reported persistent issues of racial profiling, abuse of authority, and excessive use of force by law enforcement in Bulgaria, particularly targeting ethnic minorities and migrants, especially the Roma community. Although 229 complaints concerning police conduct were registered in 2022, no official cases of racial discrimination were recorded, raising concerns about the effectiveness of reporting and accountability mechanisms.
The Committee’s findings, published on 29th November 2023, highlighted multiple underlying causes of these incidents, such as difficulties in securing employment, unresolved complaints, and law enforcement abuses during public demonstrations and other events (e.g., detentions and the use of physical violence). Many of these cases involved intimidation, hate speech, or direct discrimination based on ethnic origin.
However, the Committee also acknowledged the efforts of Bulgarian public institutions to address ethnic-based harassment. It noted improvements, including increased financial support for public institutions to implement measures protecting the rights of ethnic communities. Additionally, the Committee commended initiatives to train law enforcement officers with the necessary skills to enforce international agreements to which Bulgaria is a signatory.
Evaluation reports like this one are issued periodically, aiming not only to assess the situation but also to provide concrete recommendations to relevant institutions. These recommendations are designed to prevent future instances of racial discrimination and hate speech while fostering a more inclusive society.
Freedom of association
Ukrainian NGOs in Bulgaria protest against pro-Russian demonstrations
On 19th December 2023, representatives of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations “Mother Ukraine” stated in a public post on social media that several Ukrainian citizens residing in Bulgaria had received invitations to participate in a public demonstration calling for an end to the war in Ukraine. According to the association, the invitation came from pro-Russian groups who implied that Ukraine should cede its occupied territories in return for an end to the war.
In response, the members of the Association’s NGOs sent a public letter to Bulgarian authorities, addressing the President, Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and the head of the State Agency for National Security. The letter informed them of the planned event, which was scheduled for 20th December 2023.
In their public post announcing the letter, the Association stressed that Ukrainians, including refugees temporarily residing in Bulgaria, distanced themselves from the event. They condemned the demonstration and reaffirmed their support for the position and efforts of the Kyiv authorities in resisting Russian aggression. Additionally, they urged the Bulgarian authorities to take appropriate measures to investigate the activities of pro-Russian forces in the country.
Freedom of peaceful assembly
Football fans clash with police in violent protest
In November 2023, thousands of Bulgarian football fans demonstrated in Sofia and demanded the resignation of the president of the Bulgarian Football Association (BFS) due to the poor performance of the national team. As Radio Free Europe reports, the protest turned violent just minutes before the kick-off of a qualifying match between Bulgaria and Hungary for the 2024 European Football Championship. The demonstrators threw homemade bombs, stones and plastic bottles at the police. The police used a water cannon to quell the violence, resulting in injuries. Video footage allegedly taken at the scene shows citizens being beaten and arrested. Police also stormed a bar, beating patrons and arresting some of them. While responding to the unrest, the police also engaged in what Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described as “unprecedented” violence against journalists, with at least nine journalists being beaten, intimidated or obstructed by the police. These incidents are described in more detail in the “Freedom of expression” section.
Protests in support of Palestine take place despite bans
On 13th October 2023, dozens of citizens gathered in front of the National Palace of Culture (NPC) in Sofia to express support for Palestinians in the war in the Gaza Strip. Earlier that day, city authorities had banned the demonstration, citing opinions from the State Agency for National Security and the Sofia Directorate of the Interior Ministry. On the same day, Bulgaria’s Prosecutor’s Office issued a media statement warning that it would act “uncompromisingly” to maintain public order and security, in light of increasing instances of hate speech and calls for radical actions based on religious and ethnic grounds, including radical Islam, spreading on social media.
On 13th October, Bulgarian lawmakers also passed a declaration condemning Hamas and called on the international community to show solidarity with Israel and support its efforts to protect the lives and security of its citizens.
According to the Anadolu News Agency, the prosecutor’s office recommended banning demonstrations that could be perceived as indirect support for the terrorist organisation Hamas. Following this recommendation, the Sofia municipality banned another planned demonstration on 23rd October. The same source reported that national press organisations boycotted a press conference held by Arab and Palestinian associations on 15th November.
Despite the bans, on 25th October, around 200 people gathered in Sofia to protest in support of Palestine, according to OFFNews. The outlet also noted an increased police presence at the event, where protesters chanted slogans such as “Long live Palestine” and “One genocide does not justify another.”
In early December 2023, the US Embassy in Sofia issued a warning about potential demonstrations linked to the conflict in Israel and Palestine, advising American citizens to avoid areas where Palestinian protests were expected.
On 28th January 2024, a march in support of the Palestinian people, advocating peace and opposition to wars worldwide, took place in Sofia. The event had not been coordinated with the municipality due to objections from the police and the National Security Service, according to public broadcaster BNT.
“Any war that leads to the death of innocent people is an extreme injustice. Every death of innocent people is an extreme injustice, and the world must try to end this immediately,” a protester told BNR reporter Elena Beykova.
Father’s Day protest demands changes to family code
On 26th December 2023, a protest organised by the “For Shared Parenting” Foundation took place in Sofia. According to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), participants called for amendments to the Family Code to support shared parenting. The protest, held on Father’s Day, aimed to raise awareness of the importance of both parents being involved in their children’s lives. Men and women alike took part in the event.
Freedom of expression
Journalists Assaulted and Obstructed During Protest Against Bulgarian Football Federation
On 16th November 2023, at least seven reporters and photojournalists were assaulted by police while covering a protest in Sofia during the Euro 2024 qualifier between Bulgaria and Hungary. The protest, which targeted the leadership of the Bulgarian Football Federation (BFS) and its president, Borislav Mihailov, escalated into violence, resulting in injuries to police officers, protesters, and journalists.
According to an alert by the Media Freedom Rapid Response mechanism, several reporters, including Dani Yordanov and Mario Gospodinov from Gospodari.com, were beaten with batons despite identifying as media. Darik Radio journalist Yuliyan Sutev was struck repeatedly with a baton and required medical attention, while a photojournalist from an international agency was pepper-sprayed at close range. Sportlive.bg reporters Kristian Ivanov and Emil Georgiev, who were broadcasting police violence against a protester, were also assaulted despite displaying their press badges. The police tried to force Dnevnik photojournalist Georgi Kozhuharov to delete the photos he had taken of them attacking a boy and slamming his head into a rubbish bin. He refused, and after other journalists intervened, the police withdrew. The most serious incident involved Telegraf journalist Nikolai Parashkevov, who suffered a fractured skull after being hit on the head by police, even though he wore a visible press badge.
During the same protest, Darik Radio journalist Nikolay Ganchev was briefly detained while reporting on a police raid in a bar. Although he identified himself and showed his press card, police forced him and others to lie on the ground before releasing him 15 minutes later when his accreditation badge was noticed.
Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov responded by announcing measures to address the police attacks, including a parliamentary commission of inquiry, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs launched an internal investigation. However, AEJ Bulgaria and international press freedom organisations expressed doubts about whether the measures would ensure accountability, particularly in light of the fact that an influential member of the ruling coalition has expressed opposition to the parliamentary commission. Reporters Without Borders referred to the events as “unprecedented” violence against journalists, and announced it would monitor the implementation of the measures announced by Dankov.
In the aftermath, AEJ Bulgaria requested access to CCTV footage of the protest to conduct its own investigation. However, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev refused to release the recordings, citing concerns over personal data protection. AEJ submitted a revised request to review the footage on-site, arguing that the public interest and need for accountability should take precedence. The association emphasised that many individuals caught in the footage were participants in a public event already broadcast by the media.
State-owned nuclear power plant sues whistleblower
On 9th January 2024, whistleblower Nataliya Stancheva received notice of a lawsuit filed by the state-owned Kozloduy nuclear power plant against her and her mother, demanding 500,000 levs (around 250,000 euros) in damages. The lawsuit, which was later withdrawn on 16th January, was filed after Stancheva uncovered the illegal operation of a medical clinic at the power plant. As a nurse at the Occupational Health Service clinic, she filed numerous Freedom of Information requests, which prompted regulators to declare the facility unlawful. The clinic was briefly closed in June 2023, but reopened in September, after which the company sued both Stancheva and her mother. NPP Kozloduy challenged her right to request information and accused her of damaging its reputation. Stancheva, who had refused to carry out health checks at the unauthorised facility, was dismissed but later reinstated after winning an appeal.
Stancheva has reported ongoing harassment from her employer, and the Association of European Journalists-Bulgaria has publicly condemned the lawsuit as a “severe SLAPP case” designed to silence critical voices. They urged Kozloduy NPP to drop the suit and called on the European Commission to ensure Stancheva’s protection under the EU’s Whistleblower Protection Act. In recognition of her perseverance, Stancheva was awarded the Access to Information Programme’s Golden Key Award in September 2023.