site.btaBulgarian Parliament Increases Penalties for Animal Cruelty

Bulgarian lawmakers have approved tougher penalties for crimes against animals, adopting key amendments to the Criminal Code at second reading on Friday. The provisions passed with overwhelming support: 164 votes in favor, one against, and none abstaining.

Under the new legislation, organizing or participating in animal fights or breeding, training, or providing animals for such fights, will be punishable by one to six years in prison and a fine of 1,000 to 10,000 BGN.

If the fights are recorded for distribution, the punishment increases to two to eight years behind bars, compared to the current one to six years.

Repeat offenders deemed particularly dangerous will now face three to ten years in prison and fines ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 BGN. Previously, the law allowed for two to seven years in prison and fines of 10,000 to 20,000 BGN.

Acts of cruelty resulting in the death or serious, lasting injury of a vertebrate animal will carry one to five years in prison and a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 BGN upon conviction.

Stricter penalties apply when the act is committed for the purpose of filming and distribution, or by two or more people—two to eight years in prison and a fine of 2,000 to 10,000 BGN.

The most severe cases—those committed for profit, by order of an organization, or by organized criminal groups—will carry sentences of three to ten years and fines of 5,000 to 20,000 BGN.

In particularly egregious cases, the court may impose up to 12 years in prison and fines of up to 30,000 BGN.