Bulgaria electronic monitoring system fails as man escapes house arrest

The escape of Stoyan Kolev from house arrest in Burgas has exposed significant flaws in Bulgaria’s electronic monitoring system. Despite wearing an electronic bracelet, Kolev managed to leave his residence in the Slaveykov neighborhood, later claiming on social media that he had fled the country.

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev stated that the bracelet worn by Kolev lacked the necessary tracking device, prompting an investigation by the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior. The controversy highlights a technical gap in the system purchased in 2018 for approximately 1.34 million BGN. While the contract included various devices, most bracelets used for house arrest do not feature GPS capabilities.

According to the Ministry of Justice, out of 159 individuals under house arrest using electronic bracelets, none are equipped with GPS. These standard devices are designed only to signal whether a person remains within a specific perimeter by communicating with a local station, rather than transmitting real-time satellite coordinates. Specialized GPS devices are limited to a small group of approximately 50 units, primarily used for individuals with movement restrictions or those working at external sites.