A series of protest rallies in support of victims of domestic violence will be held on Tuesday around the country. They will take place in Sofia, Stara Zagora and other Bulgarian cities.
On Monday, Parliament adopted at first reading two bills to amend the Penal Code, introducing increased penalties for bodily harm. The MPs introduced the concept of "intimate relationship", which now brings abusers who are not married or living in the same home as their victims within the scope of the legislation.
Before the start of the Monday Parliament sitting, citizens protested in front of the National Assembly under the slogan "No more: change the law now!" demanding changes to the Penal Code.
The urgent amendments in the two acts were called for after the case of an 18-year-old girl, a victim of domestic violence in Stara Zagora, gained widespread publicity. Defendant G. G. is charged with two counts of inflicting medium bodily injury and making death threats to the 18-year-old girl. More evidence is being gathered in the case and more medical examinations are to be carried out. This is the third instance of similar misconduct alleged against G. G. The District Court in Stara Zagora took a permanent remand measure of "detention in custody" on Monday against the accused in the attack on the girl from Stara Zagora over a threat to kill her.
/MR/
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