Bulgaria's Prison System Continues to Experience Problems - Council of Europe
The Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of the Council of Europe published on Thursday the report on its most recent visit to Bulgaria.
The visit, which took place between February 13 and 20, was an opportunity for CPT to assess the progress in the implementation of its long-standing recommendations.
In particular, CPT reviewed the treatment and detention conditions of persons held at investigation detention facilities and prisons.
The report concluded that people detained by police continue to run a significant risk of being ill-treated both at the time of apprehension and during subsequent questioning.
Furthermore, there has been no progress in ensuring the practical implementation of the legal safeguards against police ill-treatment.
Detained persons often did not receive information about their rights, were not able to notify a third party of their custody and did not benefit from the services of a lawyer from the very start of their detention.
The report also noted that the physical ill-treatment of prisoners remains alarming in all the penitentiary establishments visited.
CPT officials were informed of a number of allegations of deliberate physical ill-treatment of inmates by staff, which included slaps, punches and kicks.
The Bulgarian authorities acknowledged the findings of the report, expressed concern over the incidents of ill-treatment in penitentiary institutions and outlined measures to address the problems.
CPT also highlighted that overcrowding remains a problem for prisons and closed-type prison hostels.
According to the report, corruption in the prison system remains endemic and the material conditions at the three prisons visited, namely Sofia, Varna and Burgas, remain poor.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Bulgarians' Real Estate Investments Reach 59 Countries
As of 2022, the count of fellow countrymen who purchased real estate overseas reached 2,154, based on data from the National Revenue Agency referenced by "Telegraph"
Bulgaria's Euro Adoption Likely Postponed: Entry Date Shifts to Second Half of 2025
Bulgaria's long-anticipated entry into the Eurozone may face a delay, as the country is unlikely to meet the inflation criterion required for the introduction of the euro on January 1, 2025
FlixBus Expands Routes from Bulgaria: New Connections to Thessaloniki, Athens, and More
FlixBus, the renowned European bus company, is set to launch new routes to and from Bulgaria in anticipation of the summer season
Russian Forces Capture Strategic Village of Ocheretyne in Donetsk Region
In a significant development, the Russian army has seized control of the pivotal village of Ocheretyne in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, a strategic location crucial for Ukrainian defense efforts
Bulgaria Sees Surge in Lamb Prices as Retail Costs Rise
The price of retail lamb in Bulgaria has surged by 8.4% on an annual basis, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, with data sourced from SAPI indicating an average price of BGN 25.27 per kilogram as of April 10
Russian Nationals Accused of Falsifying Documents for Bulgarian Citizenship
In a concerning revelation, the ad hoc committee investigating the activities of Gleb Myshin uncovered that over the past three to four years, a staggering 343 candidates from the Russian Federation seeking Bulgarian citizenship were discovered to have su