Justice Ministry Sees Significant Improvements in Prison Conditions

Deputy Justice Minister Stanimir Stanev speaking to the press, Troyan, July 1, 2026 (BTA Photo/Preslava Ivanova)

Sofia,

01.07.2026 21:38

(BTA)

Bulgaria has made significant progress in improving both prison conditions and the working environment for correctional officers, Deputy Justice Minister Stanimir Stanev said Wednesday as inspections of the country's prisons near completion. Speaking to reporters during the opening of a photo exhibition portraying prison inmates, by photographer Vladimir Karamazov, Stanev said the changes were substantial compared with the situation more than a decade ago, when he worked at Lovech Prison.

He noted that prisons now operate schools and offer inmates vocational training leading to recognized qualifications, helping them reintegrate into society after their release.

Stanev highlighted what he described as a strong focus on rehabilitation and socialization, led primarily by prison social workers and educators, saying the results were already visible.

He said prisons should be viewed as places where sentences are served rather than institutions to be feared. Referring to inmates' participation in disaster recovery efforts, he argued that society should recognize prisoners as people capable of rehabilitation and redemption.

On staffing, the deputy minister said there was no shortage of prison guards, although some vacancies remain. He added that prison occupancy remains below full capacity and that Bulgaria complies with European standards, including minimum living space requirements, access to water, sanitation and natural light.

Stanev also announced that a new prison in Samoranovo is expected to open soon, describing it as a modern facility unlike any currently operating in Bulgaria.

Regarding funding, he said the prison system is not expected to receive additional budget resources but will instead focus on improving efficiency, including through reforms at the state-run Prison Fund enterprise, with the aim of further upgrading living conditions for inmates and working conditions for prison staff.

The exhibition whose opening the Deputy Minister attended, is titled "In Their Place", which features portraits and stories of inmates from Belene Prison on the Danube.

/NF/