Bulgaria said it will close 28 facilities for the mentally ill and handicapped after harsh criticism by the Council of Europe.
The Prosecutor-General's Office issued a statement on December 4 saying it planned to close the facilities by 2027 due to poor conditions, as well as violence against patients and misuse of medication.
A Council of Europe committee on December 2 called on Bulgaria to stop using chains at mental health facilities to restrain individuals, calling it “totally unacceptable.”
The committee said in its report that its delegation had visited several facilities and heard allegations of staff "pushing, punching, and kicking” patients.