Published on 2 January 2023

THIRD SECTION

Application no. 31387/17 ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH and Others against Bulgaria lodged on 18 April 2017 communicated on 5 December 2022

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE

The application concerns a refusal on the part of the national courts to register as a religious denomination the first applicant, the Orthodox Christian Church – a religious community identifying itself as Eastern Orthodox, but distancing itself from the official Orthodox church on doctrinal and political grounds. The refusal was due to the similarity of its name with that of the official Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and to the latter being considered by law as the only representative of Eastern Orthodoxy in Bulgaria. The final domestic judgment in the registration proceedings was given on 6 December 2016. The applicants – the Orthodox Christian Church itself, its head and one of its members – complain under Article 9 of the Convention, interpreted in the light of Article 11.

QUESTION TO THE PARTIES

Has there been an interference with the applicants’ freedom of religion, within the meaning of Article 9 § 1 of the Convention, read in the light of Article 11? If so, was that interference prescribed by law and necessary in terms of Article 9 § 2?

APPENDIX

List of applicants

No.

Applicant’s Name

Year of birth/ founding

Nationality

Place of residence/ official seat

1.ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH

2016Bulgarian

Gabrovo

2.Hristo Petrov SABEV

1946Bulgarian

Veliko Tarnovo

3.Krasimir Stanchev ATANASOV

1969Bulgarian

Sevlievo