Gay man dies after being attacked by group of teenagers in Bulgaria

A 31-year-old gay man has died after being found with serious injuries at a park in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, with prosecutors investigating whether he was targeted because of his sexual orientation.

Georgi Kuzev was found near Dzhendem Tepe, also known as Youth Hill, at approximately 5:20pm on Tuesday (4 August).

Parents who were collecting their children from a nearby nursery came across Kuzev and called emergency services.

Several teenagers have been detained in connection with the death, including minors

He was taken to hospital suffering from severe head injuries, multiple fractures and extensive internal injuries. He later died despite attempts by doctors to save him.

Several teenagers have been detained in connection with the death, including minors.

Investigators are examining security camera footage from the area as they work to establish what happened before Kuzev was found. Footage from a nearby restaurant reportedly showed a group of between 10 and 15 young people gathering close to the park before moving towards a wooded section where Kuzev was later discovered.

The owner of the restaurant, Ivan Despov, said footage indicated that Kuzev had taken a less-used route rather than walking along the park’s main path.

“The victim did not walk along the main alley but took a less frequented path where the meeting had apparently been arranged,” Despov told Nova TV.

What do investigators know about the attack?

It has been suggested that Kuzev may have been brought to the location after being contacted through a dating app. However, authorities have not confirmed that account or established who arranged the meeting.

Krichim mayor Atanas Kalchev said a number of explanations for the killing were circulating while the investigation continued.

“Various versions are circulating publicly, including that the victim was lured through a dating app, that a group of teenagers carried out the attack and that the motive may have been a hate crime,” he said. “Until these are officially confirmed by the prosecutor’s office and the Ministry of Interior, they remain only working hypotheses.”

Prosecutors are specifically considering whether Kuzev’s sexual orientation was a factor in the attack.

What is Bulgaria’s record on LGBTQ+ rights?

The investigation comes amid continuing concerns over LGBTQ+ rights in Bulgaria. The country does not recognise same-sex marriage or partnerships, while ILGA-Europe has identified restrictions on LGBTQ+ expression and called for legal measures to recognise and protect same-sex couples.

In August 2024, Bulgaria amended its education law to prohibit what it described as the promotion or encouragement of “non-traditional sexual orientation” in schools. The legislation was introduced by the far-right Vazrazhdane party and prompted protests and criticism from LGBTQ+ rights organisations.

ILGA-Europe‘s assessment of Bulgaria examines protections covering equality and non-discrimination, hate crime and hate speech, family rights and other areas of LGBTQ+ law and policy.

The circumstances surrounding Kuzev’s death remain under investigation.