Who can become victims of hate crimes and what kind of help is available to victims?
If you have suffered physical or moral injuries as a result of a hate crime or if your property has been damaged or lost, or a family member or close relative has died due to a hate crime, you have the right to be recognized as a victim in the proceedings. As mentioned before only certain crimes can be classified as hate crimes under the Bulgarian Criminal Code. Some of these crimes are formal or they are not strictly directed to a concrete victim and in such cases the person that had been attacked cannot participate in the criminal proceedings as a victim.
Right to a fair trial
The right to a fair trial applies to all victims of hate crimes. Both the perpetrator and the victim have rights and duties during the trial.
Read more about the right to a fair trial.
About this section
This section of the Guide will explain different situations where a person can become a victim of hate crimes, you can also find out how to get help.
Read more about different aspects related to being a victim of a hate crime: