The Parliament has defined the criminal offence committed in the context of domestic violence, the Bulgarian National Television reports.

The adopted text is part of the amendments to the Penal Code that are being discussed at second reading.

According to the adopted proposal, a crime is defined as domestic violence if it is preceded by systematic acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence, forcible restriction of privacy, individual freedom and rights.

This definition will apply to cases in which the offence is committed against a spouse or former spouse, a person with whom the defendant has a child in common, a person with whom the defendant cohabits or has co-habited, or resides or has resided in the same household.

For homicide in a situation of domestic violence, the punishment is imprisonment of up to 20 years or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Penalties for a parent who refuses the father or mother to see her child are also increasing. Now the fine is up to BGN 300, but it will be up to BGN 5,000.