Bulgaria has taken a historic step toward strengthening animal protection laws with recent amendments to its Penal Code. The changes introduce significantly stricter penalties for animal cruelty and for the organization of animal fights. Courts will now be able to impose higher fines and bans on working with or keeping animals. Additionally, the police and prosecutors will now be authorized to use special intelligence-gathering tools in investigations of serious crimes against animals, enabling more effective enforcement.
“This is a major step forward for Bulgarian society and a victory for every living being that cannot defend itself. The amendments show that when we act together, we can push for changes in both the law and institutional behavior,” stated Petya Altimirska, chair of CAAI (Campaigns and Activism for Animals in the Industry).
The amendments were adopted by the National Assembly of Bulgaria on July 23, 2025, with 164 votes in favor and only one vote against. They were officially published in the State Gazette on July 24, 2025.
The legislative changes were prompted by a CAAI-led investigation into the case of Gabriela Sashova and Krasimir Georgiev, who tortured and killed hundreds of animals to produce pornographic content for financial gain. The two were arrested in March and charged with animal cruelty, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering. The case sparked mass protests in numerous cities across the country, with public demands for legal reform and harsher penalties for animal abuse.
Here are the details of the new legislative changes:
Thanks to the newly accepted changes, the punishments for cruelty to animals have increased:
- For cruelty to a vertebrate animal, including its unlawful killing, or the infliction of severe or permanent injury to it, the offender could be sentenced to 1 to 5 years of imprisonment and a fine ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 BGN (~ 500 – 2500 €).
- The punishment increases to 2 to 8 years in prison and a fine ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 BGN (~ 1000 – 5000 €) when the cruelty: is committed by a person professionally involved in animal care or husbandry; is carried out in a manner or using means dangerous to humans or animals; is particularly painful or excessively cruel to the animal; occurs in a public place or in the presence of a minor; is repeated; is recorded for distribution; is committed by two or more individuals.
- The offender(s) could be sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison and could be charged a fine ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 BGN (~ 2500 – 10 000 €) if: the act is committed for profit; the perpetrator acts on behalf of or in execution of a decision made by an organization, group, or organized crime group (OCG); the act constitutes a dangerous repeat offense.
- 3 to 12 years of imprisonment and a fine ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 BGN (~ 5000 – 15 000 €) would be the punishment for any crime that constitutes an especially severe case.
- Courts are also now granted the authority to impose bans on practicing certain professions or activities (e.g., working with or keeping animals).
Thanks to the newly accepted changes, there are now stricter punishments for the organization or involvement in animal fighting:
- Organizing, participating in, or conducting animal fights (e.g., dog fights) is now punishable by 1 to 8 years in prison and a fine of 1,000 to 50,000 BGN.
- The penalty increases to 3 to 10 years in prison and a fine of 10,000 to 15,000 BGN (~ 5000 – 7500 €) if: the act is committed on behalf of or in execution of a decision made by an organization, group, or organized crime group (OCG); the act constitutes a dangerous repeat offense.
- Courts may also impose professional bans, such as prohibiting the offender from owning, working with, or keeping animals.
The amendments grant law enforcement the authority to use special intelligence-gathering measures in investigations of serious crimes against animals. This legal advancement is expected to significantly improve the ability of police and prosecutors to identify and apprehend offenders.
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Link to Bulgarian Penal code and texts 325a, 325б – regarding penalties to abuse of animals: https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/1589654529#buttons_52863
Contacts and additional information:
Petya Altimirska (Chair of CAAI)
+359 (0)89 576 0754
https://caai.bg/en/
https://facebook.com/caai.bg
https://www.instagram.com/caai.bg
https://twitter.com/caai_bg
https://patreon.com/CAAIBG
CAAI is a member of the Eurogroup for Animals coalition.
