site.btaTotal of 289 People Convicted of Sexual Relationships, Cohabitation with Minors in First Half of 2025

For the first half of the year, 289 people have been convicted for sexual relationship or cohabitation with minors, show data presented Monday by Kalina Serafimova, prosecutor from the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office. Serafimova took part in a round table on prevention of child/early marriages and cases of early births, organized by the State Agency for Child Protection in Sofia.

For the first half of 2025, the newly initiated pre-trial proceedings for sexual contact with a person under the age of 14 were 49, and there were 25 enforceable sentences. In 2024, there were 54 enforceable sentences.

The newly initiated pre-trial proceedings against an adult who, without being married, starts living in a marital-like relationship with a female under the age of 14 or 16 were 301, and there were 262 enforceable sentences. In 2024, there were 569 enforceable sentences.

The newly initiated pre-trial proceedings against a parent or other relative who receives a payment in order to allow their daughter or another female relative under the age of 16 to start living in a marital-like relationship with someone else were six, and there were two enforceable sentences. In 2024, there were two enforceable sentences.

During the first half of 2025, one person was acquitted.

Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov, who opened the forum, said that over the past 10 years in Bulgaria, a total of 33,159 children have been born to underage mothers.