Dear editor,

I too watched last night's documentary on the Mogilino Institute and was horrified and heartbroken at the treatment of those children, which was both medieval and criminal.

How can you, as a nation, stand by and watch your children suffer in this way? Why is Bulgaria, which by all accounts is attempting to modernise, lure tourists, and improve living standards for the majority of its citizens, still condoning this behaviour?

A letter received by the filmmakers from the Bulgarian Government Department overseeing the care of these children stated that the director had not been sacked, and seemed to wash its hands of all responsibility. There was also a statement at the end of the film, which claimed that several aid agencies had been prevented access to the Institute. If the rest of the world wants to help these children, why is the Bulgarian Government standing in its way?

Has the viewpoint that these children are "no more than animals" because of their particular disabilities become so entrenched in Bulgaria, that an offer of help is seen as unnecessary? Is this to do with money? Or pride?

The people running the department responsible for sanctioning the conditions in these places have the blood of those children on their hands, as does the director and to a lesser degree, the staff who have not complained to a higher authority. What I watched was assisted murder, abuse and neglect. In the UK, all involved would be tried and imprisoned.

I will be writing to my own government, asking them to raise this matter at the European Parliament. Romania was allowed to join the EU on condition that such Institutes were significantly improved.

These are not Institutes. They are concentration camps. It would seem that Bulgaria is still operating in a Soviet era timezone.

Regards,
Gale Mitchell

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