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The photographs in this series are taken at the prison of Pleven and the drug addict center in the village of German.
Outside a small village called German, near the Bulgarian capital Sofia, is a rehabilitation community for heroin addicts. It's self-verning, but the residents - most of whom are taken here by friends or family – are not free to leave. They sign a contract undertaking not to take drugs, alcohol or tobacco. There are no doctors, nor any psychological treatment. The only way for them to overcome their addiction is by work in the surrounding farmland, and mutual support. Only a small percentage of residents manage to leave drug behind, and most try at some point to escape. Pleven Prison, in the north of the country, also houses a number of heroin addicts, together with other offenders. The prison is a warm, clean place, where inmates have access to doctors and treatment, and where many are wiling to talk openly about their mistakes they have made in the past. Nevertheless, drug dealing is common inside the prison walls, making it harder for inmates to overcome their addiction.
Dimitri Stefanov was born in Bulgaria in 1987, but has lived in Spain for the past 12 years. He studied photography at EFTI in Madrid, where he received an award for best photographer of the year and held a solo exhibition. Dimitri was awarded a scholarship to the Gervasio Sanchez Albarracin seminars and his work has appeared in some of leading Bulgarian magazines. In 2011he is selected for The World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass. In 2013 he recieved 3th prize at the BG Press Photo contest and he is among the finalist of Pikto Award.