The focus of this ad hoc visit was to review the implementation of the long-standing CPT recommendations as regards the situation of persons deprived of their liberty in psychiatric institutions and social care homes. The situation found by the CPT in such establishments in Bulgaria during the 2017, 2020 and 2021 visits was extremely concerning. It was the subject of written exchanges between the Committee and the Bulgarian Ministry of Health and was discussed during high-level talks in Sofia in 2019.
Regrettably, the findings of the 2021 visit demonstrated that little or no effective progress had been achieved in the implementation of key recommendations repeatedly made by the CPT, and in November of that year the Committee decided to issue a public statement, pursuant to Article 10, paragraph 2, of the Convention establishing the Committee.1 The CPT subsequently met the Minister of Health for another round of high-level talks in June 2022.
Over one year later, the 2023 ad hoc visit allowed the CPT delegation to return to assess the situation on site.
In the course of the visit, the delegation held consultations with Krum Zarkov, Minister of Justice, Maria Pavlova, Deputy Minister of Justice, Nadya Klisurska-Zhekova, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Natalia Efremova, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Katya Ivkova, Deputy Minister of Health, as well as with senior officials from the three above-mentioned Ministries.
At the end of the visit, the delegation presented its preliminary observations to the Bulgarian authorities.
The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:
- Elsa Bára Traustadóttir, Head of delegation
- Judith Öhri
- Chila Van Der Bas
- Viktor Zaharia.
They were supported by Dalia Žukauskienė of the CPT Secretariat, and assisted by an expert, Andres Lehtmets, psychiatrist (Estonia).
The delegation visited the following places of deprivation of liberty:
Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Health
- Byala State Psychiatric Hospital
- Tserova Koria State Psychiatric Hospital
Establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
- Home for persons with learning disabilities in Draganovo
- Home for persons with learning disabilities in Tri Kladentsi
1. According to Article 10 (2) of the Convention, “If the Party fails to co-operate or refuses to improve the situation in the light of the Committee’s recommendations, the Committee may decide, after the Party has had an opportunity to make known its views, by a majority of two-thirds of its members to make a public statement on the matter.”
