Bulgaria’s Parliament voted on September 30 to approve the second and final reading of amendments to the Civil Procedure Code directed against SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) cases.
SLAPP cases are those directed against journalists and human rights defenders intended to silence them.
A European Union directive against SLAPP cases has been in effect since May 2024 and the Bulgaria’s Parliament vote transposes the directive, however belatedly, into Bulgarian law.
The amendments add a chapter to the Civil Procedure Code, setting out rules that will apply to civil and commercial court cases lodged in response to the public activity of the defendant. These rules also will apply to pending cases and cases in which an appeal has been lodged.
Defendants may ask the court to apply these rules in cases where court proceedings already have begun.
The amendments make it possible for a court to throw out a case where the claim is clearly baseless.
They also provide for protection for the defendant when there is inequality between the parties, the amount of the claim is excessive or unreasonable, there are multiple or coordinated proceedings, intimidation and harassment, abuse of procedural rights, and choice of court for the purpose of pressure and actions to discredit the defendant.
The amendments make it possible for the court to collect evidence ex officio, as well as for non-profit organisations, professional and trade union organisations to give evidence in support of the defendant.
To limit the economic pressure on the defendant, it is envisaged that the claim will not be allowed without convincing written evidence, while at the same time introducing the possibility for the defendant to request security for reasonably expected legal costs.
A lawyer may choose to provide free legal assistance and defence to the defendant in such proceedings.
On September 30, a statement on the website of the Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria said that the Bulgarian Anti-SLAPP Coalition, uniting over 10 organisations, lawyers and media experts, welcomes the changes to the Civil Procedure Code, which introduce rules into Bulgarian legislation to protect journalists, media, civic activists and other persons participating in the public debate from clearly unfounded or abusive legal proceedings.
“This is an important step for the protection of freedom of expression and civic participation in Bulgaria,” the statement said.
The statement said that it is particularly important that the protection is not limited to cases with a cross-border element, but also covers national civil and commercial proceedings. This goes beyond the minimum requirements of the European directive and responds to the real problem of “SLAPP cases” in Bulgaria, the statement said.
The adoption of these changes is the result of years of work by journalistic, human rights and civil society organisations and is an important signal that the state recognises the danger of using the judicial system as a tool for intimidation and censorship, the statement said.
“The law does not solve all problems, but it gives journalists, media outlets and citizens concrete means of protection when legal proceedings are used against them to force them to remain silent,” it said.
Bulgaria’s Parliament approves amendments directed against SLAPP cases 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-09-30 11:58:37
Bulgarian News, Bulgaria News, Latest Bulgaria News, Bulgaria Breaking News, Bulgarian Breaking News, Bulgaria News Today, Bulgarian News Updates, Bulgaria Headlines. Sofia News, Plovdiv News, Varna News, Burgas News, Ruse News, Stara Zagora News, Bulgarian Politics, Bulgarian Economy. Bulgarian Business News, Bulgarian Sports News, Bulgarian World News, Bulgarian Europe News, Bulgaria Current Affairs, Bulgarian Society, Bulgarian Culture, Bulgarian Events. News from Bulgaria, News about Bulgaria, Bulgaria News Headlines, Bulgaria News Updates, Bulgarian News Reports, Bulgaria News Portal, Bulgarian News Website, Bulgarian News Media. Latest Bulgarian News, Bulgaria Today News, Bulgarian Breaking Stories, Bulgaria Latest Updates.Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Breaking News, Latest News, News Today, News Updates, Top Stories, Current News, News Headlines, Daily News. Latest Headlines, News Report, News Coverage, Live News, News Alert, News Stories, Online News, News Website. Independent News, Trusted News, News Media, Local News, National News, Trending News, Latest Updates, News Analysis. Exclusive News, Current Affairs, News Portal, News Platform, News Articles, Daily Headlines, Real Time News, Latest Reports. News Events, Global Updates, News Information, Breaking Stories.
BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-09-30 11:58:37
