2024-04-29 19:30:27
The new complex in the village of Samoranovo, which includes a pilot prison without bars on the Norwegian model, transitional wards, a training center for prison officers, etc. was unveiled to the public today, 16 months after the first sod was broken.
“I feel extremely proud that we can show the real results of our joint project with the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (NFM). I accepted it as a personal cause, because for the most part I took an active part in it – both as a minister and as a responsible deputy minister”, said the Minister of Justice Maria Pavlova in her welcome to the participants in the final conference on the project, held earlier in the day in Sofia.
It’s a huge success, it’s amazing! – was the assessment of Kim Eckhaugen, director of the International Directorate at the Norwegian Correctional Service. “We pressed you a lot with the deadlines, the talks were not easy, we talked about Plan B and C, and you said: no, we are only implementing Plan A and that’s it. Our Bulgarian friends always find a solution and save the situation with their creative approach,” said Eckhaugen.
The project under the “Justice” Program of the NFM 2014-2021 is implemented by the General Directorate “Execution of Sentences” (GDIN) with funding from the Kingdom of Norway in the amount of BGN 42 million.
The project includes the construction of a new pilot prison in the village of Samoranovo for 400 prisoners and a training center for 100 employees of the State Prison Service. In the modern penitentiary complex, a new detention facility, “transitional wards” (the so-called half way house) have been built, in which the prisoners, who are about to be released soon, can prepare for their return to society. A social center is also planned, where public institutions, non-governmental organizations and civil society can participate in initiatives aimed at the more successful integration and social inclusion of prisoners. A school, library, chapel and workshops were built.
Today, Minister Maria Pavlova especially thanked the skeptics who, with the statements that “we will not be able to cope, provoked us to give our best and do it”. She told how at the first sod of the complex a year and four months ago, the then minister Krum Zarkov said: I feel that something big is happening. And it is really big for the entire penitentiary system, Pavlova was categorical.
“This is the dream come true of every head of prison and of the GDIN,” said the chief director of the GDIN, Chief Commissioner Ivaylo Yordanov. “Our main role is to work with inmates and prepare them for life in freedom,” he stressed. The readiness is for the entire complex to be put into operation at the beginning of September, after the employees have undergone special training.
The public presentation in Samoranovo in the afternoon was opened by the famous actor Vladimir Karamazov. Deprived of freedom are people like us, and getting to know their stories was the biggest school for me, said the audience favorite. For several months he has been working on a project in cooperation with the prison in Belene.