Response to assault on chair of Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
Following an assault on Krassimir Kanev, chair of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, during which two men punched him in the face and stomach on a street in central Sofia, John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Europe Director, said:
“Today’s attack on Krassimir Kanev is an alarming assault one of Bulgaria’s most respected human rights campaigners. Authorities must promptly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice in fair trials.
The attack comes at a time of increasing xenophobia and intolerance directed against refugees, asylum-seekers and minorities including Roma as well as those who speak on their behalf. The Bulgarian authorities have not only failed to counter the climate of intolerance, but have actively engaged in inflammatory speech and at times openly encouraged violence.”
