ERRC Urges Bulgarian Authorities to Act against Forced Evictions
02 October 2009
Budapest, 28 September 2009: Today the European Roma Rights Centre sent four letters of concern to the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, National Ombudsman and the Mayor of Burgas in connection with the 8 September forced eviction of Romani families in Burgas' Gorno Ezerovo neighbourhood. The families, consisting of approximately 80 adults and 80 children under the age of 18, are living on the streets following the destruction of their homes as municipal authorities failed to provide alternative accommodation. The ERRC also expressed concern about planned evictions of Romani families in Burgas' Meden Rudnik neighbourhood and Sofia's Voenna Rampa neighbourhood.
The ERRC requested that the Government of Bulgaria provide alternative and adequate accommodation to all people affected by the forced evictions; ensure that all concerned people will be given compensation for lost property and other damages; halt future evictions and house demolitions of the remaining homes in the settlements; and ensure effective investigation of the alleged police abuses during the eviction on 8 September 2009.
- Letter of concern to the Ministry of Interior (in English) and (in Bulgarian)
- Letter of concern to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (in English) and (in Bulgarian)
- Letter of concern to the National Ombudsman (in English) and (in Bulgarian)
- Letter of Concern to the Mayor of Burgas (in English) and (in Bulgarian)
