The case dates back to 2014, when a fiscal examination was carried out on taxes paid by the Catholic Exarchate of Sofia, which includes the faithful of Byzantine rite. Tax authorities of the capital city claim that two of the buildings owned by the Exarchate are used as dwelling places. Msgr. Christo Proykov, Catholic Exarch, President of Bulgarian bishops, said: “The fact that the Catholic community is small should not be a reason for discrimination or oppression.” In the meantime the local Church has decided to appeal to the Court of Justice.
The law is equal for all, but in Sofia it is interpreted differently. It is the case of specific Church property that the Financial Department of the City Council has unexpectedly decided to consider “simple dwellings.”

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