Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Public debate opens on tougher animal cruelty penalties after shocking Pernik case

They cannot speak. But you can!
Photo: BTA

Proposals for tougher penalties for animal cruelty have been published for public debate until 4 April this year, after which changes will be made to the Penal Code. This follows a case of extreme animal cruelty by a young woman from Pernik and her male accomplice. The woman tortured and murdered hundreds of small animals, while the man filmed the atrocities in order to sell the videos to fetishist clients outside the country.


The new proposal provides for 2 to 8 years' imprisonment and a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 euros if the act is committed by a person who carries out an activity related to the breeding or care of animals in a particularly cruel manner. According to the public prosecutor's office, only nine people have been jailed for animal cruelty between 2019 and 2024.

Meanwhile, in an open letter to the institutions, more than 160 civil society organisations have called for immediate and effective action against the growing cases of violence against animals. They propose the creation of a Public Advisory Council for Animal Protection under the Council of Ministers and a standing committee in the National Assembly. Protests against animal abuse continue under the banner "Stand up, don't look away! Today an animal - tomorrow a human being!




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Activists call for ban on calf caging

Activists from the organization “Invisible Animals” and citizens committed to the cause are submitting a petition to the National Assembly, signed by over 110,000 people and demanding a ban on calf caging. They are calling for a..

published on 8/19/25 1:20 PM

There are nearly 11,000 job vacancies at the labor offices

According to data from the National Employment Agency, there are nearly 11,000 job vacancies at the labor offices, reported BNR’s correspondent Maria Kostova. Salaries range from 1,077 BGN (EUR 550), which is the minimum wage, up to 13,000 BGN..

published on 8/19/25 12:21 PM
Delyan Peevski

Delyan Peevski proposes the establishment of a national water board

The leader of ''DPS – New Beginning'', Delyan Peevski, has called on National Assembly Speaker Natalia Kiselova to convene an extraordinary meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Water to draft and adopt a decision for the..

published on 8/19/25 10:29 AM