The government’s programme for the places of deprivation of liberty envisaged:
1. Reorganisation and reconstruction of the existing building stock in the investigation
detention facility with deadline 30 April 2009 in the amount of BGN 200,000, with a source of
funding from the 2009 budget.
2. Reorganisation and reconstruction of the existing building stock in the investigation
detention facility – transition project with deadline 30 November 2010 in the amount of BGN
400,000, with a source of funding from the 2010 budget. Designing was commissioned and 50 % of
the amount was to be paid in advance in 2007. Also, the designing had to be completed within 45
days from commissioning.
As of 2019, the planned measures for the detention facility in the city of Kardzhali have
not been implemented yet.
The NPM found that the medical office is not operational. The medical auxiliary was
released from his job. According to data of the head of Kardzhali Regional Service for
Execution of Punishments, a medical specialist will be appointed. At present the medical care
services for detainees are performed by the Urgent Medical Care Centre in the city of Kardzhali.
There are no detainees with chronic diseases and on maintenance therapy. The sanitary and
hygiene conditions are good, and the feeding is provided through catering with an option for
dietary menu.
9. Smolyan Detention Facility
The detention facility in the city of Smolyan is located in the same building with
Smolyan Prison Hostel to Plovdiv Prison. The capacity of the detention facility is 21 persons.
There are 7 cells with three beds each. On the floor of the detention facility there are 2 rooms
for visitations, a bathroom, a room for interrogations and a medical office. The NPM assessed
the material and living conditions in the detention facility as good.
The NPM received official information that the detention facility is to be closed in 2020
and persons on the territory of Smolyan Region will be detained in the detention facility in the
city of Plovdiv. The NPM considers the idea inappropriate for two reasons. First, Smolyan
Region is specific due to its weather conditions, particularly in the winter season. This would
make the transportation of detainees extremely difficult. Second, Smolyan Judicial Region
covers not only the three courts in the city of Smolyan (regional, district and administrative) but
also four more regional courts (Devin, Zlatograd, Madan, Chepelare). Bringing detainees to
each of these courts would be extremely difficult, time consuming and costly.
A doctor is hired under a civil contract by the detention facility and he only comes on
call. At the same time, at the MC of Smolyan PH, which is located in the same building, there
is a doctor with fixed working time who also provides medical care to the detainees in the
detention facility (8 persons per annum on average), and this is quite natural for two units of
one institution located in one and the same building. For dental care, detainees are brought in
the city of Smolyan.
From the medical documents presented to the NPM it has become clear that the
detention facility has been keeping a Register of Traumatic Injuries since 2016. Only one case
is registered in 2019. At the time of the inspection there were 3 detainees in the facility. In the
interviews conducted, they did not complain of the medical care and mistreatment by wardens
and guards. The sanitary and hygiene conditions in the detention facility are good.
The NPM recommends a medical specialist to be appointed there.
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