site.bta75 Elderly Rescued from Illegal Nursing Homes in Bulgaria, Justice Minister Says

A total of 75 individuals have been discovered in two illegally operating nursing homes in the village of Yagoda, near Maglizh in the Stara Zagora region, Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev told reporters at a news briefing at the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry in Stara Zagora on Saturday. Georgiev presented disturbing images showing elderly residents who had been restrained, as well as the deplorable living conditions inside the facilities. Nineteen people were housed in one location, and 56 in the other.

“Some of the individuals were found in critical health condition. Eighteen were transported by ambulance to the Stara Zagora hospital, and two of them are in serious condition. All were admitted to various departments for immediate medical intervention,” the Minister explained.

Georgiev revealed that in recent weeks, several attempts by officials to carry out inspections had been obstructed. “Some of the residents had been tied up, sedated, or kept under the influence of powerful tranquilizers. Blood tests are now being conducted to determine the substances involved,” he said, adding that investigative procedures are ongoing.

Searches have been conducted, and documents seized. The facilities, according to their owners, were registered as rental properties rather than licensed healthcare or social service providers. They were charging 990 BGN per month per room,

Georgiev described the facilities them as “homes of horror”. “Doors were locked, window handles removed from the inside, hygiene was appalling, there was no bedding. Phones were confiscated, and residents had no contact with the outside world or access to their ID cards. They were told their phones would be returned if relatives called. There was no permanent medical care – doctors only came when someone died. Unqualified staff were administering injections. One resident said he tried to escape twice but was brought back each time,” Georgiev said.

The minister stressed that widespread inspections of nursing homes and hospices are now underway as part of an effort to combat property fraud targeting vulnerable individuals. “These revelations are linked to ongoing investigations into property mafia schemes involving helpless people. The Executive Agency Medical Supervision and the Agency for Quality of Social Services have conducted over 100 inspections, uncovering numerous violations. Four licenses have been revoked, one operator voluntarily relinquished their license, and another facility is currently under a license withdrawal procedure. Several others have received compliance orders,” he added.

Five individuals have been arrested – two men and three women.