Some 75 people have been rescued from two ‘house of horrors’ illegal care homes in Bulgaria where residents had their feet tied and were sedated and beaten.
The facilities, in the village of Yagoda, near city Stara Zagora, were run as so-called health centres for the elderly, offering ‘rooms for rent’ for around 400 Euros per month.
But in reality, they were ‘houses of horrors’, according to Justice Minister Georgy Georgiev.
Bulgarian officials announced the rescue mission today, which saved dozens of residents from being locked in rooms with no bedding and window handles removed.
Shocking images show a frail, thin elderly person with their legs tightly tied together with a rag, as they lie on a dirty mattress with one sock missing.
Other outrageous pictures feature variously an older person being removed from the facility on a stretcher, and a dirty, dilapidated bathroom.
Five people have been arrested and an investigation opened into ‘kidnapping, violence and negligence’, according to the regional prosecutor’s office in Stara Zagora.
The office said in a statement: ‘According to testimonies, one older woman had not left the establishment for four years.
The facilities, in the village of Yagoda, near city Stara Zagora, were run as so-called health centres for the elderly, offering ‘rooms for rent’ for around 400 Euros per month. Pictured: An elderly person transported out of the facilities by a healthcare worker
But in reality, they were ‘houses of horrors’, according to Justice Minister Georgy Georgiev. Pictured: An image of a victim at the facilities which the minister held up at a press conference today about the rescue mission
The facilities were ‘houses of horrors’, according to Justice Minister Georgy Georgiev. Pictured: A bathroom in one of the illegal care homes
‘Another resident, who tried to flee, was caught, beaten and left unconscious.’
The Bulgarian justice ministry added some of those rescued had ‘their feet tied and were sedated’ and were locked in rooms ‘without bedding, the window handles removed and cut off from the outside world’.
Minister Georgiev displayed disturbing images showing residents restrained and the facilities’ horrific living conditions at a press conference in the region today, according to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).
He said some victims were found in critical condition, with 18 taken to hospital by ambulance.
Doctors at the hospital in Stara Zagora confirmed to BTA later today all patients admitted had been stabilised, with none in life-threatening condition.
All had been treated for dehydration and malnutrition – and some for ‘severe heart failure’.
Officials had made several attempts in recent weeks to inspect the facilities – but they had been obstructed from doing so, Georgiev added, speaking to reporters.
Some residents had been ‘kept under the influence of power tranquilisers’: ‘Blood tests are now being conducted to determine the substances involved.’
Five people have been arrested and an investigation opened into ‘kidnapping, violence and negligence’, according to the regional prosecutor’s office in Stara Zagora. Pictured: File photo of Yagoda, the village where the care homes were
He described the hygiene in the facilities as ‘appalling’ – with unqualified staff administering injections and no permanent medical care on site, with doctors only attending if there was a death.
Georgiev added residents had no access to their phones or ID , having been told their handsets would be returned if relatives called.
The centres, registered as rental properties not licensed health or social care providers, have since been searched, with documents seized, he said.
The minister emphasised the government was now undertaking widespread inspections of nursing homes and hospices to stop vulnerable individuals being targeted by property fraud.
He said: ‘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.’
Minister Georgiev displayed disturbing images showing residents restrained and the facilities’ horrific living conditions at a press conference in the region today (pictured), according to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA)
The lack of provision for older people in Bulgaria has led to the development of illegal centres in the country.
Nine older people died in a fire in November 2021 at a nursing home near the city of Varna.
Four others died in a similar incident in May 2022 at another facility in the same area.
International organisations often criticise the poor state of health facilities in Bulgaria, the poorest country in the European Union.
The Council of Europe’s European Committee For The Prevention of Torture (CPT) for instance, spoke out on social care institution and psychiatric hospitals specifically in 2021.
It said in a statement: ‘For more than 25 years now, the CPT has consistently expressed its deep concern regarding a number of issues concerning the treatment, conditions and legal safeguards offered to patients with psychiatric disorders and residents of social care institutions.’
Despite strongly recommending ‘decisive action’, it added: ‘Unfortunately, in the course of the Committee’s most recent visits to Bulgaria in 2017, 2020, and 2021, the CPT’s delegations have witnessed a continuing lack of such action.’