In an important move, Bulgaria’s parliament has passed legislation intended to protect journalists, activists, whistleblowers and others from abusive lawsuits aimed at intimidating or silencing public criticism. Known as strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs, such cases often involve claims of defamation or reputational damage and can impose substantial legal costs on defendants. The legislation implements a 2024 EU directive requiring protection against abusive cross-border proceedings, but Bulgaria has extended the safeguards to domestic cases as well. Courts will be able to dismiss clearly unfounded claims at an early stage, must observe shorter deadlines, and will face stricter conditions before imposing interim measures such as asset seizures. The protections will also cover existing proceedings that have not reached their first hearing. Lawyer Alexander Kashumov welcomed the reform, saying dozens of costly cases currently before Bulgarian courts were having a paralysing effect on freedom of expression.