Bulgarian Court Removes First Batterer from Home Under New Law on Protection Against Domestic Violence

MINNESOTA ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

For the first time since the adoption of the Law on Protection Against Domestic Violence in March 2005, the regional court in the Bulgarian city of Russe ordered a spouse to be removed from the family home for a period of one year, and to not approach his wife and children for the same period. With the support of Global Fund grantee, the Nadja Center, the injured woman submitted requests to the regional police department and the Regional Court in Russe.

Grantee: Nadja Center Foundation, Bulgaria

The wife, a 42-year unemployed woman, had been submitting requests to the Police and the Prosecutor's office against her husband who is an alcoholic and beat and harassed her and their children for many years. However, it had always resulted only in calling the perpetrator in the Police office, where he would sign a document, prohibiting him to harass physically and psychologically his family. But this had no effect on him.

On 29 April the injured woman addressed Najda Center in Russe and on 3 May a request was submitted in the regional police department to Senior sergeant Kyossev. At the same time, Mrs Ivanova, in her capacity of a lawyer at Najda Center, submitted a request to the Regional Court in Russe.

On 12 May the magistrates issued an immediate protection order to the petitioner. They have ordered that the perpetrator must be removed from the commonly inhabited home for a period of one year and banned him to approach the home and the places of social contacts of the victims for the same period. Additionally, a temporary assignment for the housing of the children with the injured parent has been issued.

The order was send to the regional police department and on 16 May Senior sergeant Kyossev, together with his colleagues removed the perpetrator from the family home.

May 17, 2005 by Liliya Sazonova, National VAW Monitor for Bulgaria
© 2005 Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights

See Bulgarian Grantee Instrumental in Passage of Domestic Violence Law below to learn about the role of the Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation in Bulgaria's fight against domestic violence.