“The MPs must criminalise, as a matter of urgency, acts aiming to violate human dignity,” lawyer Mihail Ekimjiev stated in an interview with public service TV BNT.

The members of parliament suspended their summer break after protests broke out over the abuse of an 18-year old girl from Stara Zagora, so as to discuss legislative changes that will introduce harsher punishment for domestic violence and broaden the circle of individuals entitled to protection.

• Sadistic violence against a young girl exposes serious problems of Bulgarian justice
• Thousands of people protesting across the country over case with abused 18-year-old girl

“What they are doing is the easiest thing to do – upping penalties for bodily harm in a hurry, without there being any proof that the problem is in the level of penalties,” he commented.

Mihail Ekimjiev said further that any form of torture must be criminalised but added he was sceptical such texts will be approved because they would make police brutality, which is, in his words a routine practice at police stations, a criminal act. The other cause are the political parties which have been instilling the idea that men must be masters in their relationship with women, and that they are free to abuse those who are weaker than themselves.