Ministry

SOFIA, Bulgaria - On Friday, October 31st, Sofia City Court sentenced to 5 years in prison Alexander Ginchev (20, pictured right) from Sofia for his racially motivated attack against Muiwya Kolauale (Mike) from Nigeria on January 20, 2007.

This is the first time in history a Bulgaria court sentences a Bulgarian citizen for a racially motivated act of violence.

At the time of the attack Ginchev was part of a nationalist group of young people popularly known as “skin heads”. Mike, who is a soccer player and originally from Nigera, came to Bulgaria in 2004 to play soccer for one of Bulgaria’s regional teams (Sportist, Svoge).

On the evening of January 20th, 2007 Mike was coming home from soccer practice when he was attacked from behind. The incident happened in an isolated underpass area used for people to transfer from one city bus to another.

The attackers, around 10 of them, kicked Mike in the back and when he fell to the ground, one of them pulled a knife. Alexander Ginchev, who at the time was 19 years old, stabbed Mike five times with deep cuts in the abdomen`, the back and the head. Mike was kicked, beaten and left for dead with number of serious head and body injuries. A by-passer called an ambulance and Mike was rushed to the hospital where the fight for his life began. After being in coma for 2 days and after multiple operations, Mike began to recover.

Breakthrough Christian Center, a local church based in Sofia, rallied around Mike, who is a member of the church and assisted his recovery with prayers, care, financial aid and legal assistance.

A case was opened and an official investigation was launched. After 21 months the verdict comes as the first sentencing in a racially motivated crime in Bulgaria.

Violence against persons of color living in Bulgaria is not a new phenomena. Reports of such criminal acts have gone largely unreported or ignored by the authorities. However, racist attacks have escalated in recent years as radical nationalism is on the rise.

In 2007 Bulgaria became a member of the European Commonwealth and has signed numerous international treaties condemning racism, even as the Bulgarian constitution condemns it as well.

“This case is unique and first of its kind for our practice here in Bulgaria. Mike was able to recover physically and go through this process of seeking the truth and the justice he deserves with the help of his friends from the church. This case opens the door for legislative initiative, which can improve the Penal Code by introducing specific legal provisions where racial violence is involved”, said Mrs. Stanislavova, Mike’s attorney.

“I’m very happy justice has prevailed today”, says Mike, who has recovered and has begun to practice again in search for a new career opportunity in soccer. “I know of other Africans who have been attacked and they never reached this point in seeking justice. Today this has changed. Bulgaria is changing for the better.”

For contacts regarding this case, please contact:

Elena Dyankova
Justice 21 Project Coordinator
Breakthrough Christian Center
Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel. +359-2-983 2930, +359-899 902 837
edyankova@prelom.bg