Violence against men

Since the start of 2023, Bulgaria has seen a drastic surge in trafficking-related pre-trial proceedings, with 1,277 cases initiated, marking a staggering 60% increase compared to the same period in 2022. This revelation came from Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov during a forum in Brussels.

Greece has made progress in combating violence against women but serious concerns still remain, particularly over shortcomings in victim protection and attitudes among the authorities involved in dealing with such cases, an expert report has found. 

In an interview with the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, Chief Secretary Zhivko Kotsev of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported a 3.7% decrease in overall crime compared to last year. Notably, crimes against persons, car thefts, and property theft have seen a decline, while crimes solved have increased by 3%.

A six-year-old boy is in the Razgrad hospital after being severely beaten by his stepfather.

The child was beaten a week ago in the village of Hersovo, where he lived with his mother and stepfather. The mayor reported his condition, as the boy was locked up at home so that the bruises and swelling on his body would not be noticed.

“Those involved in such activity will be charged with a host of federal laws, including laws against kidnapping, sex trafficking, child abuse, and the deprivation of civil rights”

A foreign national arrested in the Mediterranean province of Antalya on charges of human trafficking has been handed a historic sentence of 220 years in prison, marking the highest penalty ever imposed for this crime, according to a statement from the governor's office.

An avalanche of reports of domestic violence followed the news of the abuse of an 18-year-old girl in Stara Zagora, but court orders for permanent victim protection increased even earlier in the year.

This is what Zornitsa Shumanova, who heads the new unit for combating domestic violence at the National Police, told bTV:

Authorities on the island of Corfu have launched a legal case against a 44-year-old Roma man, subsequent to allegations by his partner that he engaged in indecent acts with her five underage children, whose ages range from nine to fourteen.

According to public broadcaster ERT, the suspect is confronted with charges of rape and multiple instances of sexual offenses involving minors.

In a bid t to curb the rising wave of violence targeting health care workers, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has announced a comprehensive action plan aimed at increasing security personnel within hospitals and implementing a cutting-edge preventive system.

With 144 votes "in favor", the Bulgarian parliament adopted the amendments to the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence in the first reading. With them, "intimate relationship" is equated to marital partnership and cohabitation without marriage, and victims receive the same opportunities for protection.