The Bulgarian Ministry of Justice announced today that 75 elderly individuals have been evacuated from two illegal care centers in the eastern Bulgarian village of Jagoda during a large police operation. The individuals were found to be confined and subjected to humiliating treatment.
According to the ministry’s statement, “Some had their legs tied and were under the influence of sedatives. They were locked together in rooms on beds without bedding, while handles were removed from the windows so they were cut off from the outside world.“
These men and women, ranging in age from 51 to over 85, were living in former care facilities that their owners had repurposed to offer “rooms for rent” for approximately 440 to 450 euros per month. This setup allowed them to avoid inspections by social and health services.
The local prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into “unlawful detention, violence, and neglect.“
Eyewitnesses reported severe abuse; one elderly woman had allegedly not left the facility for four years. Another man, who attempted to escape, was reportedly caught, beaten, and left unconscious.
Five suspects have been arrested and detained.
Exactly 18 of the rescued elderly individuals have been hospitalized, with two reported to be in serious condition, the ministry stated. Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev described these locations as “houses of horror.“
Bulgaria, the poorest country in the European Union, faces consistent criticism for significant shortcomings in its healthcare facilities, particularly in psychiatry. The lack of adequate public facilities for elderly care has fueled the proliferation of illegal centers. This issue has led to tragic incidents in the past, including a fire in a retirement home near Varna in November 2021 that killed nine elderly people, and another incident in May 2022 in the same region where four lives were lost in a similar fire.
