3.1 Domestic violence
Domestic violence is any act of physical, psychological or sexual harassment, including any attempt of it, any forced limitation of individual freedom and private life committed to individuals who are or were in family or similar relations, in factual matrimonial cohabitation or in any other form of cohabitation.
3.3 Harassment
Harassment has been referred to as anything that takes the form of threats, verbal aggression, humiliation, etc., according to court practice.
3.5 Abuser
There is no specific definition of an abuser. However, under Bulgarian law, specific protection is granted if the violence is committed by any of the following:
- current or former spouse of the victim
- individual who is or was in a factual matrimonial cohabitation with the victim
- individual who is the other parent of a child of the victim
- ascending-in-kin relative
- descending-in-kin relative
- brother or sister
- relative by marriage up to the second grade
- guardian, trustee or foster parent
3.6 Civil protection order
There is no specific definition of civil protection orders, but only "protection orders." Protection against domestic violence will be implemented as follows:
- by obliging the violator to refrain from committing home violence
- by displacing the violator from the inhabited location for the term specified by the court
- by prohibiting the perpetrator from coming close to the victim, the dwelling, the place of work, and the locations of social contact and recreation of the victim under the conditions and term specified by the court
- by temporarily appointing the child's domicile with the victim's parent or with the parent who did not commit the violent act, on terms and conditions as specified by the court provided that it does not contradict the interests of the child
- by obliging the violator to attend specialized programs
- by directing victims to participate in recovery programs