Bulgaria
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1998
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- DECEMBER 10, 1998 · On December 10, 1998, by an overwhelming majority,...
- News items in the archive
- 149
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Bulgaria is classified as Abolitionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 149 news items on Bulgaria, from 1998 to today.
Latest news
- APRIL 25, 2001BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
Bulgaria was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death...
Bulgaria was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 25, 2001
- APRIL 9, 2001BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The leadership of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary...
The leadership of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) submitted to the National Assembly chairman 150,000 signatures in support of the death penalty for murderers of children and pregnant women
- MARCH 16, 2001BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
Independent MP Hristo Ivanov said that he will move...
Independent MP Hristo Ivanov said that he will move a proposal for the restoration of capital punishment for child murderers as hundreds of taxi drivers gathered before the parliament building in Sofia in protest against the brutal killing of a three-year
- JANUARY 25, 2001BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO)...
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) chairman Krassimir Karakachanov said it is high time the schools, the police and the prosecuting authorities did what is necessary to prevent the victimization of children by criminals and paedophiles
- JANUARY 1, 2001BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
On December 10, 1998, by an overwhelming majority,...
On December 10, 1998, by an overwhelming majority, the Bulgarian Parliament passed a bill abolishing the death penalty for all crimes
- NOVEMBER 4, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
A Libyan court postponed for the seventh time the trial...
A Libyan court postponed for the seventh time the trial of the six Bulgarian medical staff
- OCTOBER 7, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
A Libyan court postponed the trial of the six Bulgarian...
A Libyan court postponed the trial of the six Bulgarian medics to November 4, 2000
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
A Libyan court postponed until October 7 the trial...
A Libyan court postponed until October 7 the trial of the six Bulgarian medics after a request by Libyan and Bulgarian defence attorneys for more time to prepare and study the 1,600-page indictment
- JULY 25, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
Bulgaria introduced a legal reform to smooth the way...
Bulgaria introduced a legal reform to smooth the way for one of its lawyers to defend the six Bulgarian medics
- JUNE 21, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
During a press conference in Sofia, the relatives of...
During a press conference in Sofia, the relatives of the six Bulgarian medics insisted that the Bulgarian authorities take the necessary steps for finally constituting Bulgarian lawyer Vladimir Sheitanov as lawyer of the defence, even if this requires a r
- JUNE 17, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
A Bulgarian Parliamentary delegation returned from...
A Bulgarian Parliamentary delegation returned from Tripoli with the pledge of a fair trial for the six Bulgarian medics implicated in the HIV infection scandal in Libya
- JUNE 4, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
Over 1,000 Bulgarians holding lighted candles gathered...
Over 1,000 Bulgarians holding lighted candles gathered at the Libyan embassy in Sofia to support the six Bulgarian health workers facing trial in Libya on charges of infecting hundreds of children with the HIV virus
- JUNE 4, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The People's Court of Libya adjourned for September...
The People's Court of Libya adjourned for September 17 the trial of the six Bulgarian medics charged with infecting intentionally Libyan children with the AIDS virus
- JUNE 2, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The Bulgarian justice minister, Teodosiy Simeonov,...
The Bulgarian justice minister, Teodosiy Simeonov, said that the six Bulgarian medics detained in Libya had been tortured
- MAY 26, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in Parliament that...
The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in Parliament that the permission given by the Libyan authorities for a Bulgarian lawyer to take part in the defence in the case against the six detained Bulgarian medics in Tripoli, had no precedents and was made possi
- APRIL 26, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
Bulgaria cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty...
Bulgaria cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 26 (no
- FEBRUARY 29, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The Libyan Justice Secretary gave his Bulgarian counterpart...
The Libyan Justice Secretary gave his Bulgarian counterpart guarantees that the Bulgarian medics would be given a fair trial
- FEBRUARY 27, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
Some 200 Bulgarians prayed and then marched through...
Some 200 Bulgarians prayed and then marched through central Sofia in solidarity for the six Bulgarian medical staff facing trial in Libya
- FEBRUARY 24, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov asked his Libyan...
Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov asked his Libyan counterpart, Muammar Gheddafi, to intervene on behalf of six Bulgarians facing the death penalty in Libya
- JANUARY 26, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe...
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted on a draft resolution that considered a democratic achievement the abolition of capital punishment in Bulgaria
- JANUARY 14, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
European Commission President Romano Prodi said that...
European Commission President Romano Prodi said that Bulgaria had made progress in political and economic reforms but would need to continue its efforts to gain EU membership
- JANUARY 1, 2000BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
On December 10, 1998, by an overwhelming majority,...
On December 10, 1998, by an overwhelming majority, the Bulgarian Parliament passed a bill abolishing the death penalty for all crimes
- OCTOBER 1, 1999BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
On October 1, came into force Protocol No
On October 1, came into force Protocol No
- AUGUST 10, 1999BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
On August 10, Bulgaria ratified the Second Optional...
On August 10, Bulgaria ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, signed on march 11
- APRIL 28, 1999BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
Bulgaria was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death...
Bulgaria was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 28 (1999/61)
- JANUARY 29, 1999BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
On January 29, the request to extradite Turkish citizen,...
On January 29, the request to extradite Turkish citizen, Yakup Kyursat Yilmaz, was rejected by the District Court of Varna because he faces the death sentence in Turkey
- JANUARY 1, 1999BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The penalty was applicable to the perpetrators of high...
The penalty was applicable to the perpetrators of high treason, espionage, assassination, war crimes and genocide
- JANUARY 1, 1999BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
There are statements by politicians and prison governors...
There are statements by politicians and prison governors in favor of the death penalty, but these statements simply reflect the opinion of the public, 52% of whom are in favor of the death penalty for particularly cruel murders, according to a poll carrie
- DECEMBER 10, 1998BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
On December 10, 1998, by an overwhelming majority,...
On December 10, 1998, by an overwhelming majority, the Bulgarian Parliament passed a bill abolishing the death penalty for all crimes