Balgarianovinite.com The Justice Ministry announced Thursday that it has introduced a set of proposed amendments to the Civil Procedure Code aimed at strengthening protections against abusive lawsuits, commonly known as SLAPP cases (from “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation”). These cases are typically used to intimidate journalists, activists, and other individuals who speak out on matters of public interest.
The draft legislation, now open for public consultation, introduces a new chapter dedicated specifically to proceedings arising from a defendant’s public participation. According to the proposal, “public participation” includes any statement or activity carried out by individuals or legal entities in the exercise of fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, access to information, artistic and scientific freedom, and the right to assembly and association. The definition also covers preparatory and supporting actions related to issues of public interest.
The bill provides a detailed outline of what constitutes a matter of public interest. These include issues affecting fundamental rights, public health, safety, environmental protection, the conduct of public figures, allegations of corruption, and matters raised before legislative, executive, judicial, or local authorities.
One of the key measures in the proposed reform is the introduction of a mechanism allowing courts to dismiss manifestly unfounded claims at an early stage. Defendants—most often journalists or civil society representatives—would be able to request the rejection of claims deemed clearly baseless and linked to their public participation. Courts would be required to rule on such requests within one week. If a claim is found to be obviously unfounded, the plaintiff would be given a short deadline to justify it. Failure to do so, or insufficient justification, would result in the court dismissing the case in closed session, effectively ending the proceedings.
The draft also addresses situations where a claim initially appears legitimate but is later determined to have been filed with the intention of obstructing or penalizing the defendant for their public engagement. In such cases, the court may recognize the abusive nature of the proceedings after they have begun.
To assist courts in identifying SLAPP cases, the legislation lists several indicative factors. These include significant imbalance between the parties, disproportionate or excessive claims, harassment or intimidation tactics by the plaintiff, including through media or political pressure, and procedural abuses such as deliberate delays or forum shopping.
Another notable feature is the possibility for third parties to support the defense by submitting evidence. Non-profit organizations engaged in protecting fundamental rights and freedoms may, with the defendant’s consent, provide documents or other materials relevant to the case before the conclusion of first-instance proceedings.
In its final ruling, if the court dismisses the claim, it will explicitly state whether the case was initiated due to the defendant’s public participation. This provision aims to formally recognize and discourage the misuse of legal proceedings for silencing critical voices.
The draft law also introduces stricter rules regarding interim measures. Courts would not be allowed to grant security measures – such as asset freezes – without compelling written evidence. Additionally, a general rule is proposed requiring plaintiffs who benefit from such measures to provide a financial guarantee. If the claim is later rejected, defendants may recover this guarantee not only for damages but also to cover legal costs incurred during the proceedings.
The Ministry of Justice states that these reforms are designed to strike a balance between access to justice and the protection of individuals from legal harassment, reinforcing democratic participation and safeguarding fundamental freedoms. Justice Ministry Proposes Legal Safeguards against Abusive Lawsuits Targeting Public Participation 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-04-16 12:54:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law