site.btaPeople Protest Feared Demolition of Balkanton Building Despite Assurances to the Contrary

Dozens of musicians and residents of the Lagera housing estate in Sofia held a rally on Wednesday outside the landmark Balkanton building which stands in the area. The crowd protested against the owner's intention to demolish the building.

Balkanton is a formerly state-owned company which had a monopoly on the Bulgarian recording industry during the communist era.

The protest was supported by the Lagera Association, Krasno Selo Borough Mayor Tsveta Nikolaeva and municipal councillors.

Nikolaeva told journalists she was surprised to learn from the website of the Architecture and Urban Planning Department of Sofia Municipality that a case file on the matter was set up, although it had never reached the borough administration. The owner has given assurances that the building will not be demolished, but available documents show that it is set to be removed, Nikolaeva said, adding that a demolition permit was issued on May 25, 2023. Other structures around the Balkanton building are also to be pulled down.

The Krasno Selo Borough Administration has sent an official letter to Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev, who, according to Nikolaeva, can order a review of the procedure.

"Although the Balkanton building is not on the list of cultural assets, it is a cultural asset," Nikolaeva said.

On Tuesday, Sofia Mayor Terziev said he will familiarize himself with the Balkanton case to see whether it is possible to withdraw the demolition decision. Meanwhile, the record company said the building will not be demolished, but that was obviously not enough to allay the protesters' fears.

Ivailo Dzhenev, a representative of the investor, was at Wednesday's rally. He confirmed that the company has no intention of pulling the building down.

Despite the company's assurances, "civil society is protesting because the people do not trust words anymore, they trust deeds," Lagera Association President Lyubomir Petrov told BTA.

Yordan Ganchev, keyboardist for the rock band Tangra, commented: "This building was the fountainhead from which wonderful pop, rock and classical music sprang during all those years thanks to Balkanton. I very much hope that this will continue, if possible, even as a museum project. We can do rehearsals here, we can use the building."

Recording and production activities are still going on in the building, and parts of it are rented, said Radoslav Gergov, who sings with the groups No More Many More and Radula. He said the Balkanton building should become a museum.