site.btaUS State Department Report: No Significant Changes in Human Rights Situation in Bulgaria in 2024

There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Bulgaria during the year, the US State Department says in its 2024 annual report on human rights practices. Significant human rights issues included credible reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings, and torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. The government took steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses, but those actions were often insufficient, and impunity was a problem, the report says in the executive summary on Bulgaria.

Following are some takeaways from the report.

Extrajudicial killings

The government or its agents were implicated in several cases of arbitrary or unlawful killings during the year. A notable incident in December 2023 involved a man in Stara Zagora who died of asphyxiation caused by physical pressure during a police arrest following a car chase. An internal investigation led to the dismissal of two police officers involved and the resignation of senior regional police officials.

Freedom of the press under threat

While freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed, the media environment faced significant challenges. Journalists experienced harassment, intimidation, and lawsuits, especially strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), that fostered self-censorship. Political and corporate pressures, alongside an ineffective judiciary, undermined media pluralism. Physical threats were also reported, including an incident where a politician allegedly ordered harm against an investigative journalist. In one example, in January, the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant filed a large lawsuit against a former employee and her mother for repeatedly using freedom of information requests to expose alleged illegal activities; the lawsuit was dropped only after public and NGO pressure. In July, the Association of European Journalists-Bulgaria filed a complaint accusing the leader of the Velichie party of ordering harm against investigative journalist Yoan Zapryanov, who had been investigating the operation of a Ponzi scheme and paramilitary units in a Velichie-related historical park. Reporters also reported editorial censorship, with political and corporate pressure influencing coverage.

The European Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law Report highlighted ongoing online harassment, threats, and lawsuits against journalists, despite some government reforms.

Excessive use of force and poor treatment in psychiatric care

There were credible reports of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, particularly in psychiatric hospitals, where patients suffered physical abuse, neglect, and unwarranted immobilization. A fire-related death in a psychiatric clinic prompted criticism of inadequate regulations and oversight. Reports highlighted staff shortages, punitive environments, and failure to sanction abusive personnel.

Arbitrary arrest 

Although the law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, occasional violations occurred. In one example, in May the Sofia City Administrative Court ruled police had illegally detained the leader of the NGO BOEC, Georgi Georgiev, in October 2023 during a protest against the Central Election Commission. 

Child еxploitation and vulnerability

Child labor laws were enforced, but vulnerable children, especially from Roma communities, remained at risk of exploitation in informal sectors like agriculture and hospitality. Early childbearing among girls in Roma communities was noted as a serious social concern, with authorities criticized for framing it as a cultural issue rather than a gender problem.

Antisemitism and hate speech

Antisemitic rhetoric and hate speech persisted, including on social media, with concerns about government inaction. Nazi symbols were widely sold in tourist areas, and prominent public figures spread antisemitic views. Authorities banned a controversial pro-Nazi march after public outcry, but the event was held regardless, revealing challenges in combating hate-driven public demonstrations.