Bulgarian Helsinki Committee

09/04/2026

These 6 pillars must drive change for Roma and Travellers across Europe, identified by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights at the start of ! month:
1️⃣ Confront racism: To progress, we must tackle the racism in our societies.
2️⃣ True partnership: We must do better work with Roma and Travellers.
3️⃣ Celebrate diverse cultures to break through the wall of indifference.
4️⃣ Never forget: Remembering and educating on the Roma Holocaust and past injustices, such as forced sterilisation, is crucial.
5️⃣ Go local: Very often, meaningful solutions depend on bridging national initiatives at the local level.
6️⃣ Choose hope: Every Roma and Traveller child’s dream deserves a fair shot.
✊ We cannot stand by while Europe’s largest ethnic minority still awaits equality and justice. Together, we must strive to deliver on their human rights.
Read more in "The Unheard 12 Million" by the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty. 👇

08/04/2026

💙💚❤️ World Roma Day, April 8th, is an occasion to celebrate and honor the richness of Roma history and culture that make up such an integral part of Bulgaria's cultural heritage. We also reflect today on continued failures to guarantee fundamental rights for Roma across Europe.

“While International Roma Day is a celebration of the contributions of Roma and Sinti communities, it should also serve as a reminder that many continue to face discrimination, exclusion and insecurity, including in their interactions with public institutions and law enforcement, where trust remains fragile”, said Maria Telalian, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Director.

On International Roma Day, ODIHR Director calls for renewed efforts to ensure the security, equality and inclusion of Roma and Sinti communities.

“While International Roma Day is a celebration of the contributions of Roma and Sinti communities, it should also serve as a reminder that many continue to face discrimination, exclusion and insecurity, including in their interactions with public institutions and law enforcement, where trust remains fragile”, said Maria Telalian, ODIHR Director.

“Building trust between police and Roma and Sinti communities is essential to ensuring their safety and security.”

➡️Full statement from ODIHR: https://buff.ly/s7vg7id

19/03/2026

In Bulgaria, domestic violence is enabled by gaps in the law, inaction, and silence.

🔥 The BHC and the Alliance for Protection against Gender-Based Violence published a report this week analyzing recent data and showing the impact of these shortcomings and institutional failure:
• too many victims left outside the scope of legal protections;
• same-sex partners and non-traditional relationships excluded;
• no full recognition of gender-based violence against women as a crime;
• protection often comes only after abuse escalates into serious harm;
• institutions react rather than offer prevention, risk assessment, or early support.

🚨 A third of all regional court cases under the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act over a 16-month period involved children. As the Minister of Health acknowledged at our round table discussion, “For girls who have experienced such trauma, there is about a 20-fold increased risk to later become infected with HIV or have an unwanted early pregnancy” — yet the government has refused to take meaningful action. And while experts, institutions, and civil society came together to demand change, political leaders were absent from the event. In 22 out of 30 domestic violence cases that ended in murder, the victim had been subjected to systematic physical or psychological abuse.

Silence, inaction, and legal shortcomings result in tragic but preventable outcomes.

📢 We demand that Bulgaria ratifies the Istanbul Convention, so that it can finally be adopted as it has already in most Council of Europe member states.

🔗 Read the BHC press release here: https://bghelsinki.org/en/16032026-silna-round-table-press-en/

13/03/2026

📌The Prosecutor's College of Bulgaria’s Supreme Judicial Council has taken a decision that leaves the prosecution service headed indefinitely by a person who lacks the necessary professional and moral qualities, in violation of the law.

⚠️Earlier this week, Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov asked the College to appoint a new acting Prosecutor General to replace Borislav Sarafov.

❌️According to the Supreme Court of Cassation, Sarafov has no legal right to hold this position after 21 July 2025.

🗣The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee joined a group of NGOs supporting the justice minister’s request. In our view, Sarafov fundamentally does not meet the requirements of high professional competence and moral integrity.

🔗You can read our full position in the comments.

12/03/2026

‼️ The Bulgarian Parliament has adopted at first reading a Draft Law on Transparency and Integrity in Governance that, in practice, places all obligations and sanctions for ensuring transparency on private actors.
📣 Тhe Bulgarian Helsinki Committee joined a group of organizations that issued a critical position on so-called Lobbying Act.
⚠️ The proposed legislation does not make public institutions more transparent. On the contrary, it introduces vague and wide-ranging regulations that apply only to independent civil society organizations, creating a significant risk of a chilling effect and restricting freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right of citizens and organizations to participate in public life.
❌ This is a recipe for less transparency and fewer opportunities for citizens to advocate for the changes they want to see in legislation.

The undersigned—the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives (BILI), Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), Access to Information Program (AIP), Bulgarian

08/03/2026

📢 This , we highlight the legacy of the BHC’s Human of the Year awards. Since 2008:
✨ 72% of all Human of the Year grand prizes have been awarded to women (23 of 32 main awards and runner-ups).
🏆 59% of award winners in the special categories have been women (46 of 78 awards for Activism, Advocacy, Journalism, etc.).
🔥 30 individuals, organizations, and collectives have been recognized for their dedication to feminist causes and women’s rights. These 30 award recipients break stigmas and support survivors of domestic violence, fight discrimination in schools and workplaces, campaign for sexual and reproductive health, advocate for marriage equality, and do so much more. ✊
🎁 Help us tell their stories. We’re fundraising to support storytelling that amplifies the impact of these incredible people. Support our fundraiser here: https://dmsbg.com/34732/chovek-na-godinata/

18/02/2026

✅ The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) was delivered even before the Bulgarian courts had concluded their proceedings. This demonstrates the importance of Mr. Koffi's case and highlights the continual failure of the authorities to seriously and thoroughly investigate racist violence in Bulgaria.
🔗 Read the BHC's full report on the case, which was brought by Co-chair Adela Katchaounova and Iveta Savova, both attorneys in our legal defense program, providing free legal aid to victims of structural and systemic discrimination.
🕊 We are an independent, nongovernmental human rights organization and rely on donations and other sources of funding to fulfill our mission: fighting for everyone's basic rights and freedoms. Become a supporter today at the link in the comments.

The Bulgarian authorities failed to investigate a racist assault, according to a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) announced on Tuesday. The court ruled on the case of British citizen Leon Koffi, who was beaten by a group of football fans in Sofia in 2018. The case was brought by....

17/02/2026

❓ Political score-settling over transparent investigation?

⚠ Bulgaria’s law-enforcement and prosecutorial authorities have seriously compromised their role in the aftermath of the tragedy at Petrochan Hut and near Okolchitsa Peak, where six people — including a child — were shot dead.

🔻 Public anxiety about these events has been exploited for political score-settling, for the broad demonization of civil society, and for the effective curtailment of the civic sector.

🫶 Our deepest condolences go out to the families of those killed. Only truth and accountability can deliver them peace and justice.

🗞 Have you signed up for our English-language newsletter? Follow the links in the comments to read our latest issue and sign up to get the most important information about the state of human rights in Bulgaria every month.

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee expresses its sincere condolences to the families of those killed near Petrochan Hut and Okolchitsa Peak. We believe that

10/02/2026

📣 Rule of law under strain! Bulgaria’s “perpetual interim” chief prosecutor 🇧🇬

Bulgaria’s top prosecutor, Borislav Saraffov, has been running the prosecution service without a valid legal mandate for years — even though the law doesn’t allow an “interim” chief prosecutor with no time limit. Since June 2023 his authority has formally expired, and in October 2025 the Supreme Court of Cassation ruled his position unlawful — yet he remains in office.

This isn’t a simple procedural oversight. By normalising a never-ending “interim” appointment and relying on technical legal workarounds, Bulgaria’s justice system risks insulating power from constitutional checks and eroding public trust.

Instead of a clear constitutional process with fixed terms and oversight, procedural improvisation and divided judicial authority have created uncertainty at the heart of the judiciary. That’s not just about one post — it’s about how legal norms are being reshaped quietly, without dramatic confrontation, yet with deep consequences for the rule of law.

📌 A key question now: can institutions rein in this institutional inertia and uphold the legal framework that’s supposed to bind everyone — even the powerful? 🇪🇺⚖️

🔗 Read the whole article by attorney Adela Katchaounova at the link below 👇

The article is written for and published in Verfassungsblog.de: https://verfassungsblog.de/bulgaria-chief-prosecutor-interim/

27/01/2026

❗️ The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee is sounding the alarm about a deeply flawed Draft Law on International Protection that could completely block Bulgaria's asylum system.

ℹ️ What's happening?
• Bulgaria must align with EU Migration & Asylum Pact by June 12, 2026
• The government published a draft law despite unanimous negative feedback from national and international stakeholders
• BHC says the law violates Bulgaria's Constitution and EU treaties

The problems:
❌ Poor legislative drafting and chaotic structure
❌ Major regulatory gaps
❌ Constitutional violations
❌ Conflicts with EU law

Most concerning: Even after all participating ministries and agencies gave negative opinions and recommended comprehensive revision, the outgoing government still approved this flawed draft. BHC warns that if this law passes as-is, it will "fully block the national asylum system" and prevent Bulgaria from meeting its EU obligations.

🔗 Read the full statement in the link below.

22/01/2026

‼️ The resigning Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rossen Zhelyazkov, has emerged as a co-founder of the so-called “Board of Peace” initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, without a legitimate decision by Bulgaria’s competent institutions. This action violates both a number of national legal provisions and Bulgaria’s commitments to its partners in the European Union, who are jointly boycotting the initiative.

❌ The declared accession of Bulgaria to private foreign political initiatives by the resigning Prime Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov constitutes an act of unprecedented legal nihilism and a direct assault on the constitutional foundations of the state. We insist on the immediate revocation of this unlawful decision, which places Bulgaria in international isolation and serves the personal interests of Delyan Peevski in seeking the removal of Magnitsky sanctions, at the expense of national security.

This act represents yet another breach of the rule of law in the country, occurring at several distinct levels.

🔗 Read the full statement by the BHC in the link below.

16/12/2025

✨ Data activist Boyan Yurukov was awarded the prestigious "Human of the Year" award for 2025 on December 10th, Human Rights Day. The ceremony coincided with the culmination of the largest pro-democracy protests in Bulgaria since the 1990s.

📢 Yurukov was moved by the outpouring of civic participation just outside: “I have always been afraid that knowledge can lead to fear. But looking at this hall and the people [protesting] in the square, I already think that is not the case. People are taking action... and this creates civic energy and leads to change.”

💙 For the first time, a new category for defending child rights was presented by UNICEF Bulgaria. Winner Irina Manusheva is a leading voice in advocacy against inequality in education. Among the evening's other winners and nominees were activists, journalists, teachers, parents, medical professionals and many more ordinary human beings led by compassion and a shared spirit of unity.

🕊 The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee was proud to partner this year with the Embassy of Denmark in Bulgaria. Ambassador Stender remarked in his opening speech that active participation among youth in Bulgaria as European citizens gives him "hope and optimism for the future".

🔗 Read about all the honorees at: https://humanoftheyear.org/en/news/.