site.btaUPDATED Citizens Protesting Water Shortage in Pleven Region Block Major Road

Citizens protesting a water supply crisis in the Pleven region blocked the Byala–Botevgrad main road at the junction near the village of Yasen on Sunday. The protest began with a motorcade that set off from Kaylaka Park and made its way through the streets of Pleven.

Protesters gathered at the junction and blocked traffic in both directions. This time, some also blocked the bridge over the road, cutting off access to the villages of Krushovitsa and Sadovets.

Organizer Borislav Tsvetanov said that the protesters are demanding access to running water and the replacement of old pipes. He urged people stuck in their cars to join the protest. Tsvetanov warned that future protests would escalate, with plans to block all entry and exit roads to Pleven, not just for an hour, but for an entire day.

Miglena Tsanova of the counter-corruption civil association told reporters that the goal of the protest is to show that there is civic awareness in Pleven and that people are standing up against years of neglect. She said the protests would continue until an adequate water supply is secured and a permanent water source is found. 

Ivaylo Tsenov, one of the participants, said more residents need to join the protest. He described the situation in Pleven as "unbearable," adding that the State should be made aware that citizens are active participants in its governance, they have a voice and deserve to be heard. He called on the authorities to wake up, think about the people, and provide them with a future so that they choose to stay in Bulgaria.

Daniela Hristova of the counter-corruption civil association said that a collective complaint will be submitted to the relevant institutions regarding all delayed actions over the past three weeks, along with specific requests for the necessary steps to address the problems. The complaint will be filed with four institutions: Pleven Municipality, the Regional Administration, the prosecution service, and the Ombudsman's Office.

The first protest of the summer took place three weeks earlier. Residents also staged demonstrations due to the water shortage last December. Between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, there were nine separate protests, all of which involved brief blockades of the same road near Yasen.

Following a meeting of the regional crisis management team on Friday, Lozko Lozev, chairperson of the Board of the Bulgarian Water and Sewerage Holding, told reporters that the measures currently being implemented should start to show results within 15 days and residents would have access to water for longer periods each day.

On Thursday, President Rumen Radev held working meetings at Pleven Municipality and the Medical University to address the water shortage crisis.