Evictions – rroma.org https://rroma.org Sat, 29 Aug 2026 15:04:09 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://rroma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-greenwheel_large-1-32x32.png Evictions – rroma.org https://rroma.org 32 32 Illegal? https://rroma.org/illegal-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=illegal-2 Sat, 29 Aug 2026 15:04:09 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34533 The European Court of Human Rights condemned Bulgaria for demolishing the homes of 56 Roma individuals in 2023, ruling it violated their right to a home and personal life.

The court highlighted systemic issues in Bulgarian law that allow for the removal of homes without proper legal checks, emphasizing the need for legislative reform.

The actions of local authorities were criticized as collective punishment and a deliberate attempt to deny individuals their legal rights, particularly affecting marginalized communities.

]]> Relocation!!! https://rroma.org/relocation-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=relocation-2 Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:56:21 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33862 We did doubt the news about the relocation of Roma families from Košice to Hungary. Now it seems to be confirmed.

Families living in deep poverty and not speaking Hungarian have been relocated from a Roma settlement in Košice to Szalonna, Hungary, with local authorities allegedly involved in the process.

The illegal settlement in Košice, lacking basic utilities, has seen the demolition of several structures, with the mayor claiming that alternative housing was arranged for the affected families.

Residents of Szalonna express concern over the new arrivals, fearing additional social challenges, while some Roma leaders suggest that more families may be moved from Košice to Hungary soon.

Mihály Dancs, president of the National Self-Government of Roma in Hungary, stated that the mayor of Košice does not support the establishment of a system for relocating families to Hungary.

]]> Stara Zagora https://rroma.org/stara-zagora-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stara-zagora-2 Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:53:03 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33847 The municipality of Stara Zagora has postponed the demolition of around 30 illegal homes in the Lozenets neighborhood, primarily inhabited by Roma, for the second time, following calls from the Bulgarian Ombudsman and Amnesty International for a reassessment of the situation of affected families.

Concerns have been raised about the lack of adequate social assessments and the potential health risks for vulnerable individuals, including children and those with chronic illnesses, if the demolitions proceed without proper alternative housing arrangements.

The local government has been criticized for not conducting thorough evaluations of the impact on residents, particularly regarding the needs of children and people with disabilities, before enforcing the demolitions.

]]> Stara Zagora https://rroma.org/stara-zagora/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=stara-zagora Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:22:20 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33777 Marin Tihomirov, a member of the Bulgarian parliament, called for assistance from relevant institutions regarding the demolition of Roma homes in Stara Zagora, affecting over 30 families.

He emphasized the need for a clear plan for the relocation of these families and criticized the lack of a humane solution, urging the government to respect human rights.

Tihomirov appealed to all parliamentary groups to responsibly address the issue and highlighted the historical neglect of Roma communities despite previous integration efforts and funding.

]]> Amnesty and Bulgaria https://rroma.org/amnesty-and-bulgaria/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=amnesty-and-bulgaria Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:33:32 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33727 Amnesty International’s regional office in Europe has sent an open letter to the mayor of Stara Zagora, Mr. Zhivko Todorov, requesting urgent information regarding the planned eviction of Roma families in the Lozenets neighborhood on July 22, 2026.

The letter expresses concerns about the lack of proper notice and the potential impact on approximately 64 Roma individuals, including children and elderly people, who may be affected by the eviction.

Amnesty International is seeking clarification on the municipality’s assessment of the situation, alternatives to eviction, and measures for providing adequate housing for those affected.

]]> Really? https://rroma.org/really-31/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=really-31 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:18:19 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33564 A Slovenian Roma community representative in Brezje–Žabjak claims that a 19-year-old pregnant woman was left homeless after her residence was demolished without prior notice from authorities.

The representative is urging the mayor and local government to provide temporary housing for the woman and to clarify the legal basis for the demolition. The community seeks to legalize their homes and is willing to purchase land, emphasizing the need for cooperation and respect from local authorities.

]]> Greece and Evictions https://rroma.org/greece-and-evictions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=greece-and-evictions Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:00:58 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33433 The Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner has raised concerns about the eviction risk faced by a Roma community in Greece, highlighting potential human rights violations.

Michael O’Flaherty emphasized that informal Roma settlements can be considered homes under the European Convention on Human Rights, and evictions without alternative housing could infringe on their rights.

The case involves five Roma citizens alleging violations of their rights due to an administrative protocol aimed at evicting them from their long-term settlement, risking their access to essential services and security.

]]> Bulgaria: Houses Destruction https://rroma.org/bulgaria-houses-destruction/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bulgaria-houses-destruction Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:12:12 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=30077 An investment decision by the Vratsa municipality is forcing some of the residents of the “Mladost” district to leave their homes. The demolition of some of the houses in the neighborhood began this morning.

Initially, four of the buildings that are no longer habitable will be destroyed. The rest are being given a grace period so that people can find new homes. New houses will be built on the site instead.

Roma families live in some of the properties being demolished by the municipality. However, people in the neighbourhood claim that the place has been an arena of tension for more than 20 years.

]]> Poland and Roma https://rroma.org/poland-and-roma-12/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=poland-and-roma-12 Mon, 10 Feb 2025 07:37:18 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=27081 The European Court of Human Rights found that the demolition of a Roma settlement in 2015 by the city of Wrocław violated the European Convention on Human Rights. A complaint against the Polish authorities was filed by Roma, citizens of Romania.

On July 22, 2015, the city of Wrocław liquidated the Roma settlement on Paprotna Street. At the time of the demolition, the settlement consisted of five buildings. The families (adults and children) had been living in the settlement since 2009. The complaint to the ECtHR was filed in early 2016.

]]> Germany: Eviction https://rroma.org/germany-eviction/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=germany-eviction Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:07:14 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=25142 Dozens of Bulgarian Roma families in Duisburg have received letters from the German municipal authorities informing them that they must vacate their apartments by mid-September 2024, according to the organisation “Stolipinovo in Europe”.

The local authorities also specify that the affected tenants are all tenants of Gertrudenstraße, Diesterwegstraße, Pestalozzistraße, Wilfriedstraße, Halskestraße and Wiesenstraße, who are in fact tenants of the company Ivere Property Management. It turns out that the company that owns the buildings, about fifty in total, has not paid electricity and water bills to the municipal property management company for months. It now intends to cut off the drinking water supply, which, according to the municipal authorities, makes the apartments unfit for consumption and leads to a mass eviction.

]]>