CASE OF VELEV AND OTHERS v. BULGARIA

CASE OF VELEV AND OTHERS v. BULGARIA

Application No: 56007/21

Articles: 9, 9-1, 9-2, 41

Respondent state: BGR

Date: 2026-06-09

Conclusion:

Violation of Article 9 - Freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 9-1 - Freedom of religion); Non-pecuniary damage - finding of violation sufficient (Article 41 - Non-pecuniary damage; Just satisfaction)

Subject classification: Bayatyan v. Armenia [GC], no 23459/03, § 120, ECHR 2011; Burden v. the United Kingdom [GC], no 13378/05, § 34, ECHR 2008; Buscarini and Others v. San Marino [GC], no 24645/94, § 34, ECHR 1999-I; Cha’are Shalom Ve Tsedek v. France [GC], no 27417/95, § 72, ECHR 2000-VII; Communauté genevoise d’action syndicale (CGAS) v. Switzerland [GC], no 21881/20, §§ 138-145, 27 November 2023; Hasan and Chaush v. Bulgaria [GC], no 30985/96, § 84, ECHR 2000-XI; İzzettin Doğan and Others v. Turkey [GC], no 62649/10, § 103, 26 April 2016; Jehovah’s Witnesses of Moscow and Others v. Russia, no 302/02, 10 June 2010; Jehovah’s Witnesses v. Finland, no 31172/19, §§ 75 and 81, 9 May 2023; Kokkinakis v. Greece, 25 May 1993, Series A no 260-A; Larissis and Others v. Greece, 24 February 1998, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1998-I; Leela Förderkreis e.V. and Others v. Germany, no 58911/00, § 79, 6 November 2008; Micallef v. Malta [GC], no 17056/06, § 58, ECHR 2009; Molla Sali v. Greece [GC], no 20452/14, § 85, 19 December 2018; Nasirov and Others v. Azerbaijan, no 58717/10, 20 February 2020; Navalnyy v. Russia [GC], nos. 29580/12 and 4 others, § 115, 15 November 2018; Ossewaarde v. Russia, no 27227/17, 7 March 2023; S.A.S. v. France [GC], no 43835/11, §§ 57 and 124, ECHR 2014 (extracts); Vučković and Others v. Serbia (preliminary objection) [GC], nos. 17153/11 and 29 others, §§ 70-77, 25 March 2014