site.btaPrisoners with Light Sentences to Help Clear Waste in Sofia's Krasno Selo Borough - Justice Minister

Prisoners with light sentences will assist in cleaning the waste in Sofia's Krasno Selo borough, which is among the most affected by the city's waste crisis, Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev told journalists here Wednesday. He took part in a roundtable titled "Urban Waste Management: Crime, Corruption, and Environmental Security" held in the capital. 

The Mayor of Krasno Selo borough sought our assistance, and we will immediately provide manpower—prisoners with light sentences who reside in open-type hostels and already work during the day in various companies will join the cleaning efforts, explained the Minister. He clarified that the prisoners will work under the supervision of staff from the General Directorate Execution of Sentences (prison wardens). According to him, such practices have been implemented before, including in cleaning riverbeds in Sofia.

Georgiev emphasized the need for specificity, not rhetoric, in addressing the waste crisis in the capital. "Mayors should propose solutions, not excuses. Citizens are not obliged to dispose of their own garbage," said the Minister.

He also commented on the delay of the public procurement for waste collection in Sofia, stating that the expiring contracts had been known for a long time. "During [former Sofia mayor] Mrs. [Yordanka] Fandakova's tenure, she had planned a six-month extension of the deadlines, and one cannot announce a new procedure on March 26 when the contracts expire on April 5," Georgiev remarked.

The Minister said that the Ministry of Justice would provide full support to address the crisis, and political backing from the largest parliamentary group has also been clearly expressed.

Georgiev declined to comment on the political aspects of the issue and recommended that any reports of potential violations be reported to the competent authorities. "Any allegation of extortion, blackmail, or crime should be investigated and punished to the fullest extent of the law," he stated.

He added that legislative changes are forthcoming, which will include new provisions in the Penal Code related to illegal waste business activities. "We are working with Europol and European institutions to implement best practices from Italy, France, and the United Kingdom," the Minister concluded.