site.btaEuropean Court of Human Rights Rules in Favour of Bulgarian Citizens’ Complaint on Quality of Investigation

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in favour of three Bulgarian citizens’ complaint on the lack of an in-depth investigation intro online threats made against them in Strasbourg on Tuesday. The ECHR decision stipulates that the victims are to receive compensation from the State. 

In 2017, Valeria Ilareva, Lidiya Staykova, and Krassimir Kanev were working for non-governmental organizations defending the rights of minorities and migrants, the ECHR noted. The three lodged a complaint with the court in Strasbourg, arguing that the Bulgarian authorities had failed to thoroughly investigate threats made against them on Facebook in connection with their professional work as human rights defenders.  

The ECHR found that a provision of the European Convention on Human Rights related to the right to private and family life had been violated. 

Two of the victims are to be compensated within three months with EUR 4,500 each; the third victim is to receive EUR 5,500; and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee is to have its legal expenses of over EUR 2,500 covered, according to the court’s ruling.