The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued new interim measures requiring Bulgarian authorities to provide suitable alternative housing for fourteen individuals affected by the demolition of unauthorized structures in Sofia's Zaharna Fabrika neighborhood earlier this month. The Court notified both the displaced applicants and the Bulgarian government of these measures last night.
"The authorities have already violated the initial interim measures issued by the ECHR, which prohibited the demolition of the structures," said attorney Diana Dragieva of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC), who represents the fourteen applicants. "For two weeks now, over 150 people have been left homeless without any institutional response, despite the involvement of municipal authorities, the prosecution, ministers, and the regional governor," she added.
"Although the interim measures specifically concern the fourteen applicants who requested them, Bulgarian authorities have an obligation to assist all individuals left homeless due to the demolition of their only homes and who cannot secure shelter on their own," stated attorney Adela Kachaunova, Director of the BHC's Legal Defense Program, which provides legal representation for the applicants before the Strasbourg Court.
Today, a meeting is scheduled at Sofia Municipality to address the homelessness situation, but it pertains to only a few families among the more than 150 people still without shelter.
The ECHR's letter outlining the interim measures is available in English here.
