Bulgaria: Human rights problems persist in some areas

according to the US State Department Report on Human Rights Practices

2003 news

2002 news

Additional information:

The Bulgarian government generally respected the human rights of its citizens, but problems in some areas persist, according to the US State Department Report on Human Rights Practices released on 25 February 2004. The report cites the following problem areas: arbitrary arrest and detention, police brutality, discriminatory treatment of the Roma minority, conditions in prisons and detention facilities, and wide-ranging corruption in the judiciary.

The report also cites problems with restrictions to freedom of the press and limited freedom of association, and religious freedoms of non-Orthodox religious denominations. Conditions in some state institutions for children were poor, says the report, and the lack of funds results in insufficient assistance for the homeless and other vulnerable children, mostly Roma and children with mental disabilities.

Arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life

The report cites two death cases during the year - that of 28-year-old Angel Simeonov was shot by a forest guard in Samokov in March 2003, and that of Stoyan Lazarov, 25, shot during an indiscriminate shooting by a forest guard near Kystendil.

Violence in closed institutions

Criminal suspects in police custody run a significant risk of being mistreated, most often during the initial interrogation. Cases of ill-treatment of homeless children, predominantly Roma, are also not infrequent, says the report. The report cites data from a Bulgarian Helsinki Committee survey of incarcerated persons arrested after January 2000 which found that 49 percent of interviewed prisoners reported that the police used physical force against them during arrest, and 44 percent reported one or more beatings at police stations. Romani prisoners reported being abused more frequently than did other prisoners. Very seldom were allegations of police abuse properly investigated.

Inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment

Conditions in some prisons remained harsh and included overcrowding, inadequate lavatory facilities, and insufficient heating and ventilation. However, according to the BHC, prison overcrowding improved during the year with the opening of several new prison facilities. In spite of this, prison monitors reported problems with brutality committed by prison guards against inmates.

Freedom of speech and press

The government exerted undue influence over the media, says the report. NGOs reported that significant numbers of journalists continued to feel constrained in their reporting because of media outlet management, government influence, and outside pressure. The report cites the critical statement of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the government's undue influence over public media outlets.

Freedom of association and right to peaceful assembly

Information from the BHC is cited about violations of the right of ethnic Macedonians to peaceful assembly and restrictions imposed by local authorities to hold rallies or other meetings.

Freedom of religion

The report pays special attention to the new Denominations Act, which puts the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in a privileged position and restricts the right to profess a religion of some non-Orthodox religious groups.

Right to asylum

The report cites information, including from the BHC, about refoulment of asylum seekers from the country's borders. After border police detained a group of Christian asylum-seekers from Iran and the State Agency for Refugees did not get involved, the persons were handed over to the Iranian Embassy in Sofia which subsequently arranged for their return to Iran.

People with mental disabilities

Conditions in institutions for persons with disabilities were poor, the report continues. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has announced that it will close down 29 institutions by the end of the year due to their extremely poor physical condition. One institution for children was closed down in Fakia, and another six were closed, renovated, and then re-opened by year's end. In March one of the residents of the institution for men in the village of Batoshevo was beaten to death, and the following month a resident from the Podgumer social institution for adults with disabilities was strangled by another resident.

Rights of minorities

Severe unemployment and poverty among the Roma combined with the generally unfavourable attitudes toward Roma among ethnic Bulgarians and Turks, contributed to strained relations between the Roma and the rest of society. As an ethnic group, the Roma are subject to high levels of discrimination.

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