On 07.08.2024, the Bulgarian Parliament passed amendments to the Preschool and School Education Act by a significant majority. These amendments are not only discriminatory and in direct contradiction to the Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but they also bear a striking resemblance to measures enacted by the authoritarian regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The bill, proposed by the “Vazrazhdane” party with the support of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and “There Is Such a People” (ITN), follows Moscow’s ideological line of restricting the rights of LGBTI people, persecuting and punishing members of the community and their allies. Surprisingly, the bill garnered significant support, even from members of parliament who claim to be pro-European.
It was backed by a large majority of MPs from GERB and independent MPs from the splintered group of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), who just a year ago supported amendments to the Penal Code that provided for harsher penalties for some hate crimes based on homophobic motives.
Unfortunately, Wednesday’s vote on these discriminatory legal amendments, which took place in an atmosphere of speeches bordering on outright hostility and hate speech, demonstrates political inconsistency and opportunism. However, these actions have social consequences, and the cost will be borne not only by LGBTI people but by Bulgarian society.
Analysis of Russian propaganda and pro-Kremlin disinformation shows that the rights of LGBTI people are a favored topic for sowing discord and destabilizing European societies. By voting for the “Vazrazhdane” bill, Bulgarian MPs have done a favor to this pro-Russian party and indirectly to Vladimir Putin’s regime.
History shows that this is just the beginning—it often starts with seemingly noble ideas about protecting children, but this is never the end, and other fundamental democratic rights and values eventually come under attack by populism. We should remember that the same far-right party, “Vazrazhdane,” has already proposed a bill to register foreign agents, similar to the one implemented by Moscow. After today’s decision, it is no longer unthinkable that the vigilance of other parties could again be dulled and used for the interests of the Kremlin.
The newly adopted law places Bulgaria in a vulnerable position with its EU partners and raises serious doubts about the ability of its political class to resist anti-European attacks. It can be seen as a breach of national security and severely undermines Bulgaria’s credibility as a member of NATO and other international organizations.
The law restricts freedom of expression as well as access to information. The Constitution guarantees that everyone has the right to seek, receive, and disseminate information. With today’s decision by the National Assembly, this right is taken away from approximately 700,000 Bulgarian citizens who are currently students. They are deprived of the opportunity to discuss with people they trust, their teachers, issues of vital importance to them. With this decision, MPs have taken away the ability of biology or psychology teachers to advise their students on important issues for any young person, and have transferred this responsibility to random acquaintances, dubious internet sites, and even pornographic films.
A detailed explanation of why the adopted bill contradicts the Constitution and international treaties signed by Bulgaria can be found in the statement by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee.
