A shocking report from the Bulgarian Helsinki Commission

A report by the Bulgarian Helsinki Commission reveals 238 mentally disabled children in state run institutions have died in the past ten years and at least two-thirds of those deaths could have been prevented. Causes of death include starvation, infections as a consequence of poor hygiene, violence and lack of a medical treatment when needed.

Bulgaria's Prosecutor's Office has confirmed it is investigating 166 cases of deaths in children homes over the past decade following a joint report by his office and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee that uncovered 238 deaths over the past ten year period. Charges to be pressed could include negligent manslaughter, bodily harm, sexual harassment, mismanagement and corruption, he said. The check showed that children were tied down, which is a form of abuse, and found instances in which medication was used to control the children instead of for therapy. 57 deaths were recorded during the last three years.

There are 25 institutions for mentally disabled children remaining in Bulgaria, many of them are ‘houses of pain’ according to Yana Tavanier from the Bulgarian Helsinki Commission. "All officials responsible for those homes during the past decade – ministers of social policies, mayors and heads of the State Agency on Child Protection - must finally face trial on charges of culpable negligence," she added.

Mr Velchev said prosecutors were already working on 166 such child deaths and maltreatment cases, 27 of which involved sexual abuse and violence. Institution officials failed to report 90 percent of the inmate deaths to the police, he added.

The institution in the north-eastern Bulgarian village of Krushari has the worst mortality record for the last 10 years with a total of 56 deaths, the BHC report said.

Angelov, a five year-old boy from the Mogilino institution died of acute coronary failure in 2001 because he was never treated, the mission report said. BHC officials said they identified the victims by their Christian names only for ethical reasons.

Children with broken legs were held between seven and 10 days without any treatment in another asylum in the north-western village of Gomotartsi, the report said. Among them was Verginia, who for weeks had to endure unbearable pain each of the three times she broke her thigh. Home officials treated her with flavin packs instead of taking her to hospital in the district town of Vidin, just 15km to the south. Seven children from a home for the mentally sick in the eastern village of Medven were systematically "immobilised," or tied up, the report said. It said one of them was tied up for 15 hours a day from March 2009 until March 2010.

The forthcoming investigation will be looking not only into the child deaths but will also scrutinize the cases of one hundred and three children and youngsters currently living in state institutions who are suffering from chronic malnutrition and are believed to be close to death.

The Prosecutor-General, Boris Velchev, confirmed that pre-trial investigations are underway saying " We've uncovered troubling things. I cannot imagine that in 10 years, 238 citizens from the most vulnerable part of the society have died in this way. We can and must look for justice."

According to figures from the State Agency for Child Protection, the annual government spending per disabled asylum child in Bulgaria is the equivalent of £3,500 or less than £8 a day with just £1.25 of the daily allowance being allocated for food.

Number of deaths and the causes in Bulgaria's disabled children's homes 2000 – 2010

Total death toll : 238

Starvation (systematic malnutrition) : 31
Inadequate care : 84
Infections, poor hygiene : 13
Incidents (freezing, drowning, asphyxiation) : 6
Pneumonia : 36
Violence : 2
Unidentified causes : 15
Terminal illnesses or fatal complications: 51

You can help campaign for an end to this unbearable suffering. Download the special campaign postcard and send to Boris Velchev, The Prosecutor-General in Bulgaria, stating your support for their decision to begin investigations:

Office of Prosecutor-General, Mr Boris Velchev
2 Vitosha Blvd,
Sofia 1040,
Bulgaria
or alternatively Email: office_gp@prb.bg