The main objective of the visit was to review the measures taken by the Bulgarian authorities in response to the recommendations made by the Committee after previous visits and after the Public Statement issued by the CPT in 2015. In this connection, particular attention was paid to the treatment and conditions of detention of persons in police custody and penitentiary establishments. The delegation also examined the treatment, conditions and legal safeguards offered to psychiatric patients, residents of social care institutions, as well as immigration detainees.
In the course of the visit, the delegation had consultations with Tsetska Tsatcheva, Minister of Justice, Nikolay Prodanov, Deputy Minister of Justice, Krassimir Tsipov, Deputy Minister of the Interior, Rositsa Dimitrova, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Svetlana Yordanova, Deputy Minister of Health, as well as with senior officials from the Ministries of Justice, the Interior, Health, Labour and Social Policy, and the Prosecutor General’s Office. In addition, talks were held with the Ombudsperson Maya Manolova. The delegation also met representatives of non-governmental and international organisations active in areas of concern to the CPT.
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:
- Mykola Gnatovskyy, President of the CPT (Head of delegation)
- James McManus
- Ilvija Pūce
- Davor Strinović
- Marika Väli
- Elisabetta Zamparutti.
They were supported by Borys Wódz (Head of Division) and Dalia Žukauskienė of the CPT’s Secretariat, and assisted by an expert Clive Meux, forensic psychiatrist from Oxford, United Kingdom.
The delegation visited the following places of deprivation of liberty:
Establishments under the Ministry of the Interior
- 5th District Police Directorate, Burgas
- Elhovo District Police Directorate
- Nova Zagora District Police Directorate
- Radnevo District Police Directorate
- Sliven District Police Directorate
- 3rd District Police Directorate, Sofia
- 5th District Police Directorate, Sofia
- 7th District Police Directorate, Sofia
- Sredets District Police Directorate
- 2nd District Police Directorate, Stara Zagora
- Tvarditsa District Police Directorate
- 1st District Police Directorate, Varna
- 2nd District Police Directorate, Varna
Immigration detention:
- Special Home for Accommodation of Foreigners in Lyubimets
Establishments under the Ministry of Justice
- Burgas Prison
- Debelt Prison Hostel
- Razdelna Prison Hostel
- Sofia Prison
- Varna Prison
Investigation detention facilities at:
- Burgas
- Sliven
- 42 Blvd. G.M. Dimitrov, Sofia
Establishments under the Ministry of Health
- Sevlievo State Psychiatric Hospital
- Radnevo State Psychiatric Hospital
Establishments under the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
- Home for persons with learning disabilities in Batoshevo
- Home for persons with learning disabilities in Kachulka
- Home for persons with learning disabilities in Tvarditsa
- Home for persons with psychiatric disorders in Radovets
- Home for persons with psychiatric disorders in Tvarditsa
