site.btaJustice Minister Maria Pavlova Opens New Prison Dorm in Plovdiv

Minister of Justice Maria Pavlova opened on Friday a new dormitory at the prison in Plovdiv. The poor state of the Hebros dormitories had led to continuous complaints about living conditions from inmates, Pavlova said. The new building, she said, meets all European and international requirements, follows the recommendations of the Committee against Torture and guidelines from the European Court of Human Rights.

Existing outbuildings have been reconstructed with just under BGN 3 million allocated under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021. The renovation started in February last year. The new building is on two floors, housing 65 rooms with private bathrooms for double occupancy, two of which are for people with disabilities, four kitchens and laundry rooms. The hostel can accommodate 130 people.

Currently, 400 people are housed in Plovdiv prison, serving their sentences in the main wing. There are 46 inmates in the Hebros dormitories, prison director Chief Commissioner Zapryan Iliev said.