The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) obliged Bulgaria to create a legal framework to recognize same-sex relationships. The decision was made in the case of Koilova and Babulkova against Bulgaria, informed lawyer Denitsa Ljubenova, who represents the family.
Six years of struggle with the Bulgarian institutions
Lilia Babulkova and Darina Koilova have been together for more than 14 years. In 2016, they got married in Great Britain, but since 2017 the Bulgarian institutions have refused to register their marriage.
The ECtHR ruled that partners cannot regulate essential aspects of their life as a couple, such as those related to property, maintenance, protection from domestic violence and inheritance, like an officially recognized family. They also cannot refer to the existence of their relationship in relations with the judicial or administrative authorities, summarizes Ljubenova. The court finds that none of the grounds for violation of the public interest put forward by the government prevails over the applicants’ interest in receiving adequate recognition and legal protection of their relationship, writes “Deutsche Welle”.
Changes to the Family Code are coming
“This was necessary in order to encourage the Bulgarian legislator to create a legal framework. Up until this point, we had no external obligation to create one,” Denitsa Ljubenova told DV. “From now on, in order to fulfill its positive obligations and end the violation, it must create a legal framework, which will require changes to the family code.”
Illustrative Photo by Artem Podrez: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-kids-doing-some-artworks-6941096/
