The NPM assessment is that the above programme even when it had been adopted was unrealistic
in terms of deadlines for completion – 2015. What is positive is that it has drawn a range of issues
to be resolved by the executive powers.
Regardless of the impossible deadlines set, there is still a possibility the State Enterprise “Prisons
Production” (SE “PP”) to dispose of the state property included in its capital, but unnecessary by
selling its according to the Law on State Property and to accumulate financial resources for building
completely new detention facilities in line with European minimum standards.
The second government programme related to the 2010 budget is limited in the design and
reconstruction of three dormitories in the cities of Varna, Burgas, and Vratsa. Reconstruction and
construction of two dormitories are secured financially in 2013. The NPM found out that the dorm
in the city of Vratsa is situated in a property - private property included in the capital of a company
(after privatization), so it is impossible to make even partial repairs funded by the state budget.
Under the third programme for 2013 the negotiations with the Sofia Municipality on provision of
land for construction of a new prison in the capital region have been finalized. By Decision No 699
of 16.12.2010 of the Sofia Municipal Council an area of about 500 decares in the village of Voluyak
was granted. Provided land subsequently proved unsuitable due to passage of high voltage power
lines. As a new area for detention facilities the programme provide for construction of a new
prison having a capacity to accommodate up to 2,000 people - first stage 2011-2013, amounting to
10.5 million Bulgarian levs, out of which 9,000,000 levs are provided for 2013.
In January 2012 the Governing Council of the SE “PP” decided to carry out study, analysis and
opinion for determination of a site suitable for buuilding a prison in the land of Gorna Banya
district, the villages of Yana and Zhelyava. In February it was decided to select a consultant in
architecture, design and security.
There are also provided new areas for dormitories:
- in the village of Debelt – for the needs of a new prison dormitory to the prison in Burgas having
capacity to accommodate up to 450 prisoners, to be implemented in 2012;
- Reconstruction of buildings, a former military farm complex owned by the Ministry of Justice, for
the new prison dormitory to the prison in the city of Vratsa, having capacity to accommodate up to
150 prisoners, to be implemented in 2013;
- Construction of a new dormitory of an open type to the prison in the city of Lovech, having
capacity to accommodate up to 200 prisoners, to be implemented in 2013;
- Construction of a dorimitory of open type having capacity of up to 100 inmates to the prison in
the city of Varna, which inmates will be involved in labour activites;
- Construction of a ward of open type to accommodate up to 150 inmates to the prison in the city
of Belene and increase of the capacity of the prison up to 1000 people, to be implemented in 2013;
- Building a home for juvenile girls to the prison in the city of Sliven, to be implemented in 2013
The response of Bulgaria under the last CPT report shows that efforts are focused on creating three
closed dormitories at prisons in the cites of Pleven, Varna and Burgas. Funding for dormitories in
the villages of Debelt and Razdelna is provided by the European projects (Norwegian Financial
Mechanism), the deadline is set for 2013.
Reconstruction of buildings in the village of Debelt is in progress, it is still at the stage at
which it was four years ago, when an amount of more than 300,000 Bulgarian levs was invested by
the SE “PP”. The reconstruction is not completed due to the lack of funding provided by the state
12 Annual Report of the National Preventive Mechanism |
OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
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