14 Prison Officers Proposed for Punishment after Inmates Escape

There is a proposal to initiate disciplinary proceedings against 14 prison officers from Sofia Central Prison after the escape of two inmates last week. This becomes clear after on 13^th of April the Ministry of Justice announced the final results of an inspection carried out after the prisoners’ escape.

The inspection failed to establish how one of them got hold of a gun and whether there was a member of the prison staff who helped the two inmates to escape. The Deputy Minister of Justice said that there are only guesses and it may never become clear how the escape was organised. The report's conclusion shows weaknesses in the actions of guards. Footage from the security cameras were watched. Prisoners and prison staff have been interviewed.

It has become clear that guards have actually underestimated the inmates Pelov and Kolev, despite repeated signals from psychologists that they were extremely dangerous and cunning. The two watched for weaknesses in prison guard units.

Two armed prisoners attacked guards in Sofia Central Prison and escaped in the afternoon on April 3. They were identified as Radoslav Kolev, serving 26 years for murder, and Vladimir Pelov, serving 30 years for robbery, kidnapping and attempted murder of two Interior Ministry officers. The two are still at large.