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Press Release

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture: 
Publication of the report on the visit to Bulgaria and of the responses of the Bulgarian Government

STRASBOURG, 6.03.97 - The Government of Bulgaria has decided to make public the report of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) on its visit to Bulgaria in 1995 and the interim and follow-up reports drawn up by the Bulgarian authorities in response to the CPT's report.

Under Article 11 of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the information gathered by the Committee in relation to a visit, its report and its consultations with the State concerned are confidential. However, the State concerned may agree to lift the rule of confidentiality provided for in the Convention.

The CPT's visit to Bulgaria was carried out from 26 March to 7 April 1995, within the framework of the Committee's programme of periodic visits for 1995. The CPT's delegation visited the following places of detention:

Establishments of the police and the National Investigation Service

• Pazardjik Regional Police Directorate and Investigation Service
• Pleven Regional Investigation Service
• Sofia:
  .Investigation Service detention facility at Razvigor Street
  .3rd District Police Station and Investigation Service
  .6th District Police Station and Investigation Service
  .Centre for the temporary placement of adults in "Drouzhba - 2"
• Stara Zagora:
  .Stara Zagora Regional Police Directorate
  .Stara Zagora Regional Investigation Service
  .Detention facility for escort purposes at Stara Zagora railway station.

Prisons

• Pazardjik Prison
• Stara Zagora Prison

Psychiatric establishments

• Lovetch Prison Hospital (psychiatric section)
• Lovetch Neuropsychiatric Hospital (closed ward for the criminally irresponsible)
• Radnevo Psychiatric Hospital.

The CPT was set up under the 1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The following member States of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention: Albania, Andorra (as from 01.05.97), Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The CPT is composed of persons from a variety of backgrounds: lawyers, medical doctors, prison experts, persons with parliamentary experience, etc.

The Committee's task is to examine the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. For this purpose, it is entitled to visit any place where such persons are held by a public authority. It may formulate recommendations to strengthen, if necessary, their protection against torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The Committee organises periodic visits as well as any other visits which appear to it to be required in the circumstances.

The CPT's report on its visit to Bulgaria and the responses of the Bulgarian authorities (147 pages) can be obtained from:

• the Council of Europe Press Department:
  (Sabine ZIMMER, tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 25 97; fax +33/(0)3 88 41 27 90)
• the Committee for the Prevention of Torture's Secretariat:
  (tel. +33/(0)3 88 41 23 88; fax +33/(0)3 88 41 27 72).

An eight page summary of the CPT's main findings can be faxed upon request.