Teenagers detained in Bulgaria over gay man's death

Bulgarian police are investigating whether a fatal attack on a gay man was linked to his sexual orientation.

According to Bulgarian publication Novinite, 31-year-old Georgi Kuzev was found seriously injured near Youth Hill in the city of Plovdiv at around 5:20 p.m. on August 4.

He was discovered by parents who had gone to pick up their children from a nearby kindergarten and they called emergency services.

Kuzev was taken to hospital with a severe head injury, multiple fractures and extensive internal injuries, but died despite doctors' efforts to save him.

Several teenagers, including minors, have been detained as the investigation continues. Prosecutors are investigating whether the murder was a hate crime based on the victim's sexual orientation and whether he was lured to the scene through a dating app.

Bulgaria has been repeatedly criticised by human rights groups for its failure to combat homophobic violence, and the European Court of Human Rights criticized the country in 2022 for a previous homophobic murder. The country remains one of the most difficult environments for LGBTQI+ people in the European Union. Bulgaria does not recognize same-sex partnerships, offers limited legal protection against discrimination, and in 2024 passed a law banning what it calls "LGBT propaganda" in schools.

Powered by Froala Editor