Bulgaria: European Court of Human Rights Strengthens Country’s Judicial Independence
On October 19, 2021, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in Miroslava Todorova v. Bulgaria (application no. 40072/13) that Bulgaria had violated the freedom of expression set out in article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights.Facts of the CaseThe applicant, Miroslava Todorova, has worked as a judge in Bulgaria since 1999. At … Continue reading “Bulgaria: European Court of Human Rights…
Contributor:
Roudik, Peter
Date:2021-11-10
Article
Bulgaria: New Law Allows Acquiring Citizenship in Exchange for Investments
(May 24, 2021) On March 5, 2021, the president of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, signed into law Decree No. 80 on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria and Decree No. 81 of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria on the Amendments and Additions to the Law on […]
Contributor:
Fremer, Iana
Date:2021-05-24
Article
Bulgaria: Constitutional Amendment Provides for Judicial Reform
(Dec. 30, 2015) On December 16, 2015, the National Assembly (legislature) of Bulgaria adopted a law amending several provisions of the Constitution concerning the organization of the national judiciary and the law enforcement community. (Law on Amending the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, DERZHAVEN VESNIK [OFFICIAL GAZETTE] 2015, No. 100 (Dec. 18, 2015), at […]
Contributor:
Roudik, Peter
Date:2015-12-30
Article
Bulgaria: New Counter-Terrorism Provisions Proposed for Criminal Code
(Mar. 12, 2015) Bulgaria’s Ministry of Justice issued a press release on March 10, 2015, announcing that it had proposed a draft law on amending and supplementing the country’s Criminal Code, in order to ensure an adequate defense against terrorism. According to the announcement, the purpose of the proposed legislation is twofold: to fill gaps […]
Contributor:
Zeldin, Wendy
Date:2015-03-12
Article
Bulgaria; European Union: Bank Depositors Denied Access to Their Deposits in Bulgaria
(Oct. 8, 2014) On September 25, 2014, the European Commission instituted infringement proceedings against Bulgaria arising from its failure to pay the claims of depositors at two closed banks. The Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Bulgarian authorities informing them that the country had committed two violations of European Union legislation: (a) incorrect […]
Contributor:
Papademetriou, Theresa
Date:2014-10-08
Article
Bulgaria: Ratification of Disabilities Convention
(Feb. 27, 2012) On January 26, 2012, the Bulgarian National Assembly unanimously ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Bulgaria had signed the Convention on September 27, 2007, and the Optional Protocol on December 18, 2008. The National Assembly chose not to include the Protocol in the ratification process, however. […]
Contributor:
Zeldin, Wendy
Date:2012-02-27
Article
Bulgaria; United Nations: Human Rights Office Calls for Protection of Roma from Discrimination
(Oct. 6, 2011) Beginning on September 23, 2011, Bulgaria has experienced demonstrations against the Roma people, an ethnic minority, which were set off when a Bulgarian was killed in a traffic accident blamed on a van driven by a member of the Roma community. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights […]
Contributor:
Johnson, Constance
Date:2011-10-06
Article
Bulgaria: Cabinet Adopts Emissions Control, Human Rights, and Other Measures
(Mar. 14, 2011) Bulgaria's Cabinet, at a regular meeting held on March 9, 2011, adopted a number of significant measures. Some highlights of the Cabinet actions are summarized below. The Cabinet will sponsor amendments to the Environmental Protection Act that transpose three EU directives (Nos. 30, 29, & 126/2009) on greenhouse gas emissions reduction and […]
Contributor:
Zeldin, Wendy
Date:2011-03-14
Article
Bulgaria; European Union; Romania: Reports on Legal System Progress
(Mar. 31, 2010) The European Commission (the executive body of the European Union) released on March 23, 2010, the sixth set of progress reports for Bulgaria and Romania on their entry into the EU, conducted under the Control and Verification Mechanism (CVM). The CVM was established as a means of verifying the two countries' progress […]
Contributor:
Zeldin, Wendy
Date:2010-03-31
Article
Bulgaria: Hacker Sentenced for Computer Fraud
(Mar. 13, 2009) Isa “Hacker” Mekhmed was sentenced in Bulgaria on February 23, 2009, after being convicted of computer fraud. His sentence, handed down by a court panel of the Varna District Court, is four and a half years in prison. In addition, the Bulgarian citizen must repay nearly1.8 million leva (about US$1.6 million) to […]
Contributor:
Johnson, Constance
Date:2009-03-13
Article
Bulgaria; European Union: Justice System Criticized
(Jan. 29, 2009) Although Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, it has been placed under a strict monitoring regime by the EU, with particular emphasis on the operation of the judiciary. Aid from the EU to the Bulgarian government has been cut substantially and there may even be further reductions in assistance if the […]
Contributor:
Johnson, Constance
Date:2009-01-29
Article
Bulgaria: New Conditions for Police Work
(Aug. 29, 2008) On August 25, 2008, the Interior Minister of Bulgaria, which has recently been admitted into the European Union, announced a number of police reforms aimed at fighting the notorious corruption and inefficiency of the nation's police force. In addition to providing better technical equipment for police officers, including new computers and cars, […]
Contributor:
Roudik, Peter
Date:2008-08-29
Article
Bulgaria: Election Law Reform Proposed
(July 2, 2008) On June 17, 2008, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov submitted to the Parliament a set of bills that would amend the existing election system and initiate political reform. The proposal, which was preliminarily approved by the legislature, affects laws on political parties, campaign financing, and election of the members of the national legislature. […]
Contributor:
Roudik, Peter
Date:2008-07-02
Article
Bulgaria: Foreign Military Operations Allowed
(May 2, 2008) On April 11, 2008, the Parliament of Bulgaria revised the Law on Defense and Armed Forces of Bulgaria. The amendment repeals a provision that stated that military service will be carried out within the territory of Bulgaria and inserts a new provision according to which a refusal to carry out military service […]
Contributor:
Roudik, Peter
Date:2008-05-02
Article
Bulgaria; European Union: Ratification of Lisbon Treaty
(Apr. 2, 2008) On March 21, 2008, Bulgaria ratified the Lisbon Treaty; seven European Union Members that have endorsed the Treaty thus far. The other Members that have already done so include Austria, France, Hungary, Malta, Romania, and Slovenia. According to its advocates, the purpose of the Treaty, signed on December 13, 2007, by 27 […]
