INTRODUCTORY WORDS Over the past two and a half years, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria as a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has been able to create an internal structure that has the capacity to effectively identify risks that could lead to violation of human rights, including torture or other cruel and inhuman treatment or punishment, as well as to respond adequately to the challenges by implementing particular measures, including making recommendations, giving advice and taking initiatives for amendments to the existing administrative practices and legal solutions. This is the third annual report of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria as NPM. It contains a summary of the activities of the NPM in 2014, an analysis of the conditions in the objects examined, conclusions and recommendations to overcome the shortcomings in the detention facilities that have been visited by the NPM in 2014. The report also contains possible solutions of identified problems through amendments in the regulatory environment. In 2014, the budget of the institution was reduced by BGN 420,000 which greatly hindered and limited the implementation of the activities of the Ombudsman as a National Preventive Mechanism. Despite such reduction in the budget, the NPM continued to perform its functions under the Law on Ombudsman and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The main part of the inspections in 2014 were themed and aimed at places already inspected in 2012 and 2013 that the NPM had defined as problematic in their reports. The content of the report is addressed both to the authorities in the Republic of Bulgaria responsible for the places visited by the NPM and to the international organizations engaged in activities related to the protection of persons deprived of liberty, NGOs and all those involved professionally in protection of the protection of rights of these people. KONSTANTIN PENCHEV – OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA 5