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. 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, and residents of social care institutions.
In the course of the visit, the delegation had consultations with Mariya Pavlova, Deputy Minister of Justice, Ventislav Katinov, Deputy Minister of the Interior, Toma Tomov, Deputy Minister of Health, Nadya Klisurska and Ivan Krastev, Deputy Ministers of Labour and Social Policy, as well as with senior officials from the aforementioned Ministries. The delegation also met representatives of a non-governmental organisation 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:
- Alan Mitchell, President of the CPT (Head of delegation)
- Mykola Gnatovskyy
- Solvita Olsena
- Davor Strinović
- Marika Väli
They were supported by Borys Wódz (Head of Division) and Dalia Žukauskienė of the CPT’s Secretariat, and assisted by three experts - Clive Meux, forensic psychiatrist, United Kingdom, Tomáš Petr, mental health nurse, Czech Republic, and George Tugushi, lawyer and former Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia.
The delegation visited the following places of deprivation of liberty:
Establishments under the Ministry of the Interior
- Ardino District Police Directorate
- Dimitrovgrad District Police Directorate
- Haskovo District Police Directorate
- Kardzhali District Police Directorate
- Lovech District Police Directorate
- Pazardjik District Police Directorate
- 3rd District Police Directorate, Plovdiv
- 6th District Police Directorate, Plovdiv
- 2nd District Police Directorate, Sofia
- 3rd District Police Directorate, Sofia
- 4th District Police Directorate, Sofia
- 5th District Police Directorate, Sofia
- 6th District Police Directorate, Sofia
- 7th District Police Directorate, Sofia
- 8th District Police Directorate, Sofia
- 9th District Police Directorate, Sofia
- Troyan District Police Directorate
Establishments under the Ministry of Justice
- Kremikovtsi Prison Hostel
- Plovdiv Prison
- Sofia Prison
- Investigation detention facilities at:
- Plovdiv
- 42 Blvd. G.M. Dimitrov, Sofia
Establishments under the Ministry of Health
- Kardzhali State Psychiatric Hospital
- Karlukovo State Psychiatric Hospital
- Lovech State Psychiatric Hospital
Establishments under the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
- Home for persons with learning disabilities in Banya
- Home for persons with psychiatric disorders in Gara Lakatnik
- Home for persons with psychiatric disorders in Petkovo