About the Ombudsman

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria is a public defender who promotes and protects human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Ombudsman is a supreme independent constitutional body that is elected publicly and transparently by the National Assembly for a period of five years. The Ombudsman may be re-elected to the same office only once.

The Ombudsman is independent in his or her activities and obeys only the Constitution, the laws, and the ratified international treaties to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party and is guided by his or her personal conscience and morality. The Ombudsman enjoys the same immunity as a member of Parliament.

The Ombudsman receives and considers complaints and reports regarding violations of citizens’ rights and freedoms; makes proposals and recommendations for reinstatement of the violated rights and freedoms to the respective authorities and private entities; mediates between the administrative authorities and the persons concerned for overcoming the violations committed and reconcile their positions; protects children’s rights. The Ombudsman may act on his or her own initiative, too, when he or she has established that the conditions necessary for protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms have not been created.

The Ombudsman fulfils as well the functions of a National Preventive Mechanism within the meaning of and in conformity with the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment adopted on 18 December 2002.