Belene prison, a highly guarded facility in northern Bulgaria, has banned prisoners from keeping pet kittens. This decision follows reports that inmates were killing each other's pets as a form of punishment or revenge.
Prisoners at the facility, which is on an island and holds the largest number of people serving life sentences for murder in any Bulgarian prison, previously adopted stray kittens found on the island. However, this practice led to problems, with pets reportedly being destroyed by other inmates.
The ban also extends to flowers, which some prisoners nurtured but were subsequently destroyed by others. According to a source, anything a prisoner can form a relationship with can be destroyed, as part of their punishment involves being alone without attachments.