Alleged neo-Nazi abuse in Bulgaria triggers diplomatic storm

Bulgaria has come under intense diplomatic and political pressure after reports that Italian Jewish youngsters were subjected to antisemitic abuse and alleged neo-Nazi intimidation at the mountain resort of Bansko, prompting calls in Rome for a full investigation and renewed scrutiny of Bulgaria’s record on tackling hate speech.

The incident has escalated beyond a local police investigation, drawing reactions from Italy’s government, parliament and Jewish organisations, while Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry has condemned antisemitism and pledged full cooperation with the Italian authorities.

According to accounts reported by Italian media and Jewish organisations, a group of Bulgarian teenagers gathered outside the hotel where dozens of Jewish students from Rome and Milan were staying for a summer camp near Bansko.

The youths allegedly shouted “Heil Hitler”, made antisemitic insults and behaved aggressively, prompting teachers to instruct the children to remain inside the hotel and away from the windows.

A short video of poor quality shows five young people, some doing a gesture resembling the Nazi salute and shouting “Sieg Heil” and “Heil Hitler”.

Bansko, Bulgaria | August 2026: A group of neo-Nazis gathered outside a hotel hosting dozens of Jewish teenagers, blocking the entrance while yelling « Sieg Heil » and antisemitic slurs.
The return of scenes like these to Europe in 2026 is horrifying. pic.twitter.com/V4lBVzNd5j
— Binyomin Freundlich (@BMFreundlich) August 5, 2026

The incident triggered widespread outrage in Italy, where political leaders across the spectrum demanded an immediate response from Sofia.

Italian Foreign Minister and deputy PM Antonio Tajani condemned what he described as “another act of antisemitism” and urged the Bulgarian authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“I condemn this latest act of antisemitism – a scourge that must be fought, a form of hatred and discrimination that must be eradicated,” Tajani wrote on X, expressing solidarity with Rome’s Jewish community.

Italy’s parliament also condemned the incident and tasked the Foreign Ministry with seeking clarification from the Bulgarian government.

Matteo Salvini, leader of the right-wing League party, likewise denounced the events.

“We firmly condemn every form of violence against Jewish communities carried out by extremists, Nazis or communists. Any form of ‘hunt for Jews’ is abhorrent and unacceptable,” Salvini said.

Italian writer Gabriele Nissim warned that antisemitism, believed by many to have been consigned to history after the Second World War, continues to resurface across Europe.

He noted that the incident had occurred in Bulgaria, a country internationally recognised for saving the lives of the vast majority of its Jewish population by refusing orders from Nazi Germany to send them to concentration camps, arguing that Sofia now has an opportunity to send a strong signal against antisemitism to the rest of Europe.

Israel’s foreign ministry said the country “is appalled by the neo-Nazi expressions of hatred directed at a group of Jewish teenagers from Italy staying at a hotel in Bansko”. “We are confident that the Bulgarian authorities will act decisively to bring those responsible to justice and ensure that such incidents are not repeated”.

The Jewish organisation Shalom in Rome warned of online networks that allegedly share information about hotels hosting Israeli visitors or Jewish groups across Europe.

Sofia condemns antisemitism – on X

Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry said it was “deeply concerned” by “reports of antisemitic acts”.

“Such acts are unacceptable and have no place in a democratic society. Bulgaria unequivocally condemns all forms of antisemitism,” the ministry posted on X, adding that it is in constant contact with the police and stands ready to cooperate fully with the Italian authorities.

Bulgaria is deeply concerned by reports of antisemitic acts targeting a group of young Italian Jews. Such acts are unacceptable and have no place in a democratic society. Bulgaria unequivocally condemns all forms of antisemitism.
— MFA Bulgaria (@MFABulgaria) August 5, 2026

The Interior Ministry, however, offered a more nuanced account of the incident, describing it as a conflict between youth groups of the type that occur often at late hours.

Police said the confrontation involved verbal exchanges from both sides between Bulgarian and Italian youths and that no physical violence occurred. Officers from the local police station intervened, opened an investigation and identified all participants.

Authorities also disclosed that they had received several complaints regarding the behaviour of some participants in the international youth camp before the incident.

According to Bansko police chief Chief Inspector Hristiyan Parmakov, reports alleged excessive late-night noise, objects being thrown from hotel balconies, offensive gestures towards passers-by and trespassing onto private property.

Police also confirmed that the owner of the hotel had filed a complaint alleging property damage by the foreign guests estimated at around €15,000. Video footage seen on TV showed damaged hotel equipment, although it is not clear from it when the degradations took place.

Parmakov said preliminary findings indicate that members of the group staying at the hotel may have provoked five Bulgarian teenagers passing by shortly before the verbal confrontation, although the investigation remains ongoing. The case has been referred to the prosecution service.

Long-standing concerns over hate speech

The incident has revived concerns over Bulgaria’s lax handling of extremist rhetoric and antisemitic hate speech.

An investigation by EUalive found that neo-Nazi slogans, swastika graffiti, extremist propaganda and hate speech have appeared repeatedly in Bulgaria over the past decade, including vandalism targeting synagogues, the organisation of paramilitary groups, calls for the restoration of concentration camps, threats against journalists and political opponents, and incitement against minority communities.

Despite these repeated incidents, Bulgaria has not secured a single conviction for the dissemination of neo-Nazi propaganda in recent years. According to EUalive’s findings, no cases have reached trial.

The annual Lukov March in Sofia, which honors pro-Nazi general Hristo Lukov and draws far-right and neo-Nazi participants from Bulgaria and abroad, is widely described as a neo-Nazi manifestation. Although Sofia’s mayors and the Foreign Ministry have repeatedly tried to ban or restrict it, Bulgarian courts frequently overturn those orders, allowing the torchlit event to continue in some form year after year.

We strongly condemn the holding of the Lukov March in Sofia and stand in full solidarity with the Organisation of the Jews in Bulgaria @ShalomBulgaria, which has expressed deep indignation at this development.
For many years, the Lukov March has been associated with the… pic.twitter.com/DTtbP0Ul2w
— European Jewish Congress (@eurojewcong) February 17, 2026

Sources: RAI, Nova tv, social media

Caption: Still frame from short video on X showing presumed Bulgarian neo-Nazis outside the hotel in Bansko.