The Case That Shocked Bulgaria, and Changed Its Laws

This blog is a collaboration between the Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition (SMACC) and CAAI (Campaigns and Activism for Animals in the Industry), one of our member organizations based in Bulgaria.

It began with an email.

A foreign whistleblower had come across a series of horrifying videos circulating online, slow, deliberate torture of animals filmed for profit and shared across Telegram. When no one seemed to take action, the information reached CAAI, one of SMACC’s member organizations in Bulgaria.

What followed would expose one of the most disturbing animal cruelty networks in Europe and eventually change the country’s laws.

Uncovering the Unthinkable

CAAI’s team immediately reviewed the materials. What they saw went beyond cruelty, it was systematic, organized, and monetized. The videos showed the torture and killing of small animals for “hard crush” fetish content, sold online for €100–€400 per video.

Determined to find the people responsible, CAAI turned to a group known as the BG Elves,  volunteer cyber experts who use open-source intelligence (OSINT) to uncover digital crimes. Together, they began the painstaking process of identifying the perpetrators.

They matched online aliases, tattoos, and car plates, all using publicly available data. Within hours, they had names: 26-year-old Gabriela Sashova and 35-year-old Krasimir Georgiev.

On March 13, 2025, 8 months after CAAI reported the case to authorities, Bulgarian police carried out a special operation. The suspects were arrested in Sofia. Their devices, phones, computers, and other evidence were seized. What they found confirmed the worst: a vast network operating through encrypted channels, trading videos of extreme animal abuse.

As the news spread, Bulgaria erupted in outrage. Thousands took to the streets demanding justice, stronger animal protection laws, and accountability for those responsible. For the first time on such a huge extent, animal cruelty became a national conversation, one connected to both online accountability and real-world violence.

From Horror to Change

Thanks to the collaboration between CAAI, BG Elves, the public, and law enforcement, the investigation led to real change. In July 2025, Bulgaria passed a landmark amendment to its Penal Code, explicitly criminalizing the creation, recording, and distribution of animal abuse content. Perpetrators now face up to 12 years in prison for severe cases of torture, the strongest penalties in the country’s history for animal cruelty.

Civil society calls for effective policing and an end to animal cruelty (Source: BGNES)

“Such criminals could be our neighbors,” said Petya Altimirska, Chairwoman of CAAI.“We proved that there’s no place, online or offline, where cruelty can hide. Together, we will continue demanding justice.”

Why This Matters

At SMACC, we believe that online cruelty is never “just online.” The same systems that allow abuse to spread digitally also endanger animals and people in the real world.

This case is a reminder that collaboration saves lives. When civil society, tech experts, and law enforcement work together, no cruelty stays hidden.

We also believe in the power of awareness and action, the same principles behind our “Be Aware, Don’t Engage, Report” advice. When the public recognizes abuse and reports it responsibly, organizations like CAAI can act.

This investigation began with one person who refused to look away. It ended with arrests, national reform, and a powerful message to the world: Animal cruelty online is a crime, and it will be met with justice.

Read more on the CAAI Blog: Crimes Against Animals in Bulgaria Now Facing Harsher Punishments

Story featured by the Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition (SMACC), based on reporting and materials from CAAI.