Roma Unrest Threatens Mayor of Bulgaria's Yambol

The Roma who were evicted from the notorious apartment building 20 have decided to stay at the nearby meadow while waiting for compensation from the municipality. Photo by BGNES

Roma from the Bulgarian southern city of Yambol, who lived in the notorious apartment building 20, formed a spontaneous protest Monday in front of the city's municipality.

The Roma were evicted two weeks ago because they had illegally occupied apartment building 20. However, as they were asked to move out, they have began to break the walls with hammers, in order to remove the metal structures from inside the concrete, and to sell them for scrap.

After the demolition of the building began, some Roma families remained at the nearby meadow, building huts there with materials at hand.

On Monday, following a demand by the lawyer of 16 owners of apartments in the notorious building, the case for the legality of the mayor's order for demolition of the building was postponed by the Court of Appeals for October 11.

The number of Roma inside and outside the court house was more than 70. After it was made clear that the ruling will not be announced on Monday, they headed to the municipality, where they stayed under the mayor's windows and shouted that they wanted a meeting with him.

The protesting group's unofficial spokesperson, who called himself Sasho, has stated that they will wait for the mayor to announce when will they receive compensations for the eviction.

However, after no one except the journalists paid attention to their demands, the Roma announced they would make a camp in front of the municipality.

A man who was passing by the camp by accident and who was carrying two pieces of linoleum, stopped next to the Roma and was ready to start "building" the first tent. However, after he was explained he needed a permission, he postponed his intention.

After waiting for about two hours in vain, the protesting Roma left the site of the municipality.

The Yambol mayor, Georgi Slavov, has reiterated his position that he would not make a compromise. He claimed that the laws should be followed and that compensations and accommodation in municipal housing will happen in compliance with the respective rules.

The people who are applying for accommodation in municipal housing have to follow the established order, which is enrollment and waiting with the rest of the 800 Yambol citizens, who have also demanded accommodation from the municipality.

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