Over 6,000 convicts and detainees celebrate Christmas in Bulgarian prisons and detention centers. There are also celebrations behind bars. A bTV team investigates what lies behind the walls of Sofia Prison.
Each of them committed a different crime. Today they are serving their sentences.
„I am basically from the so-called „Killers“ gang, says prisoner Vasil Kostov.
He has never raised his daughter. He has been in prison for nearly 15 years, and his daughter is now 15. He went to prison when his wife was eight months pregnant.
Only on holidays like today does he manage to kiss her.
“All these events have a motivating effect, they bring them closer to a family environment. We can't compensate the family, but we try to get closer“, explains Prolet Nikolova - INSPECTOR “Probation“ – Sofia Prison.
Ivodor Kovachev has been a chaplain in the Sofia Prison for 28 years. He is the initiator of the event.
How can he convince a mother whose child was killed that his killer should get a second chance?
„If he is not given a second chance, sooner or later he will get out, and if there is no change, he will go to someone else and someone else's child“, believes Ivodor.
The imprisoned Vasil says what he regrets: „The only thing is that I was not with my family. I am not even accused of attempted murder“, he says.
„As an aide to an unknown perpetrator“ – adds his wife, Snezhanka.
Vasil was sentenced to life in prison without the right to parole. He claims to be innocent. And yet he says that during these years he has understood the meaning of being behind bars.