The Implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: Bulgaria

Radio and Television Act (Закон за радиото и телевизията) Art. 7.2 – The Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and the Bulgarian national Television (BNT) are national public radio and TV operators which…encourage development and popularization of the Bulgarian culture and Bulgarian language as well as the culture and the language of citizens in accord with their ethnic belonging. (“Българското национално радио (БНР) и Българската национална телевизия (БНТ) са национален обществен радиооператор, съответно национален обществен телевизионен оператор, които…съдействат за развитието и популяризирането на българската култура и българския език, както и на културата и езика на гражданите в съответствие с етническата им принадлежност.”).

Art. 17. (2) Radio and TV operators are obliged to prevent production and distribution of broadcasts in violation of Art. 10 and broadcasts instigating national, political, ethnic, religious and racial hatred…(“Радио- и телевизионните оператори са длъжни да не допускат създаване или предоставяне за разпространение на предавания в нарушение на принципите на чл. 10 и предавания, внушаващи национална, политическа, етническа, религиозна и расова нетърпимост….”).

Art. 53. (1) Bulgarian National Radio and the Bulgarian National Television can offer program time for addresses to believers and for broadcasting important religious ceremonies upon request from (“Българското национално радио и Българската национална телевизия могат да дадат програмно време за обръщение към вярващите и за предаване на значими религиозни церемонии по искане от”): 1. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church (“Българската православна църква”); 2. Other officially registered denominations. (“други официално регистрирани вероизповедания.”).

See also above on the criminal liability under Article 6.

• state infrastructure Enforcement of the above provisions of the Radio and Television Act is within the powers of the National Council for Radio and Television. The prosecutors seek criminal liability under the relevant provisions of the Penal Code.

• policy None of the above provisions have been enforced so far. No prosecution has taken place under the relevant provisions of the Penal Code (See above under Article 6).

• factual See above under narrative.

Article 10 1 The Parties undertake to recognise that every person belonging to a national minority has the right to use freely and without interference his or her minority language, in private and in public, orally and in writing.

2 In areas inhabited by persons belonging to national minorities traditionally or in substantial numbers, if those persons so request and where such a request corresponds to a real need, the Parties shall endeavour to ensure, as far as possible, the conditions which would make it possible to use the minority language in relations between those persons and the administrative authorities.

3 The Parties undertake to guarantee the right of every person belonging to a national minority to be informed promptly, in a language which he or she understands, of the reasons for his or her arrest, and of the nature and cause of any accusation against him or her, and to defend himself or herself in this language, if necessary with the free assistance of an interpreter.

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