[CLSTR]
< Back to situation

[REVISION HISTORY]

Bulgarian legislative efforts against SLAPP lawsuits

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-10 10:53 UTC → 2026-09-11 11:36 UTC · added removed

The Bulgarian Parliament is advancing legislative measures to combat Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), often referred to as “shamar” or “slap-and-shame” cases. Initially, the Parliamentary Legal Commission approved a draft bill on its first reading to amend the Civil Procedure Code. Introduced by the Council of Ministers, the proposal aims to protect journalists, activists, and public figures from legal actions intended to silence critical opinions on matters of public interest, such as corruption, health, and the environment. Under the proposed framework, defendants could request the dismissal of claims deemed “manifestly unfounded.” This initiative aligns with European Directive 2024/1069. Subsequent In recent legislative activity shows developments, the Parliament continuing to review these changes National Assembly passed key amendments to the Civil Procedure Code in its first reading, incorporating requirements from the European “Daphne” Directive. The amendments will introduce a new chapter titled “Proceedings due to protect the public participation of the defendant.” This allows courts to terminate proceedings at an early stage through a decision on the merits if a claim is found to be unfounded, disproportionate, or intended to exert economic or political pressure. Furthermore, the new measures restrict the ability to impose security for claims, such as asset freezes, unless convincing written evidence is presented. Representatives from Progressive Bulgaria noted that these changes aim to ensure equality between parties in legal disputes involving public interest issues, protecting the scientific community, human rights defenders, and the media from reputational or economic pressure through unfounded legal actions. pressure.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-11 11:36 UTC Bulgarian legislative efforts against SLAPP lawsuits
  2. 2026-09-10 10:53 UTC Bulgarian legislative efforts against SLAPP lawsuits

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.