site.btaECtHR: Government Should Provide Alternative Accommodation for Roma from Demolished Illegal Houses in Sofia

In a decision of April 28, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) indicates to the Government of Bulgaria to offer alternative accommodation for each applicant in the Ilieva and Others v. Bulgaria case. The decision, signed by duty judge Peeter Roosma, concerns 14 residents of Sofia's Zaharna Fabrika borough whose illegal houses were demolished earlier in April. 

The ECtHR requests the Government to submit information and documents on the proposed alternative accommodation for each individual applicant.

The decision comes after a request for interim measures in the Ilieva and Others v. Bulgaria case, lodged on April 24.

In a press release on Tuesday, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC) quotes lawyer Diana Dragieva of BHC, who represents the 14 applicants, as saying that the authorities have already violated previous ECtHR interim measures, under which the buildings were not to be demolished. 

She was referring to a decision of April 11, in which the ECtHR instructed the Bulgarian government to suspend the demolition of the applicants' homes until further notice, in the interest of the parties and the proper conduct of the proceedings. The Court also requested the Government to provide information on whether any measures had been considered to rehouse the applicants and their families, particularly children and those in vulnerable health; and whether the applicants themselves had the means to secure alternative housing.

The demolition order dates back to 2016 but was only enforced in mid-April, 2025. 

"For two weeks now, more than 150 people have been left homeless with a complete lack of institutional response, even though the case has been referred to the prosecution service, ministers and the Regional Governor, in addition to the municipal authorities," Dragieva argued.

"Although the interim measures concern the specific fourteen applicants who have requested them, the Bulgarian authorities have such an obligation for all those who have been left homeless as a result of the removal of their only homes and without the possibility of securing shelter for themselves," said lawyer Adela Kachaunova, Director of the BHC Legal Defence Programme, which provides the legal representation of the applicants before the ECtHR.

Since thе demolition, protests have been held by the residents of several boroughs in Sofia against the accommodation of the evicted Roma there.