Jewish organisations in Bulgaria report a significant increase in aggression and hate speech against Jews in social networks, which come from the left and far-left sectors and much less often from the far-right, where antisemitic symbols and rhetoric are usually found.
The observations of the executive director of the Organisation of the Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom” Maxim Delchev also show that “overt antisemitism comes from left and far-left groups and related social media profiles that vehemently support Russia in the war in Ukraine.”
“They express support for Hamas and Palestine, which goes beyond what is permissible,” said Delchev adding that there are far fewer such manifestations from the extreme right.
In July, Shalom reported to the prosecutor’s office because of a collage with the former foreign minister Solomon Passy, distributed on the official Telegram channel of Vazrazhdane. Passi is depicted in striped prison clothes, forcibly led by soldiers in Nazi uniforms. The inscription on the collage reads: “If you don’t want Russian gas, come and let us supply you with ours”.
The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office gave a detailed report on the initiated cases and investigations for preaching fascist ideology, mainly referring to cases of swastikas painted on the facades of buildings but also reports against the leader of the pro-Russian party Vazrazhdane Kostadin Kostadinov.
However, in recent years none of the cases resulted in court proceedings.
