site.btaProtest Staged in Sofia over Disputed Land at Vrazhdebna Experimental Field

Citizens gathered to protest near the Vrazhdebna Training and Experimental Field Centre on Botevgradsko Shose Blvd in Sofia, claiming that properties in the area had been unlawfully expropriated. The demonstrators voiced frustration over what they described as institutional inaction regarding land that had previously belonged to local families. Heirs say that despite court rulings recognizing their rights, actual restitution has not been carried out.

Protesters carried placards reading “We want a fair and incorruptible court!”, “The state is not enforcing a ruling of the court in Strasbourg!”, and “We demand adequate compensation!”. Traffic along Botevgradsko Shose Boulevard was briefly blocked, while a strong police presence was deployed during the protest.

Around 800 owners and heirs have been affected by the long-running dispute over land in the so-called experimental field in Sofia’s Vrazhdebna district, protest organizer Desislava Kyoseva told BTA.

According to her, the case concerns a plot of about 36 hectares, established in the 1960s as an experimental base. After restitution procedures began in the 1990s, some properties were returned, but the majority, some 28.7 hectares, remain unrestituted.

Kyoseva said that numerous court cases have been pursued over the years, both collective and individual. She argued that the state issued an act declaring the land public state property despite existing restitution claims and final court rulings in favour of the owners.

She added that some of those affected have taken their case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, where Bulgaria was ordered to pay compensation for delays. However, she said the deadlines set by the ruling have not been met and a second case is now underway.

Kyoseva also stressed that the compensation offered, around BGN 0.78 [EUR 0.40] per square meter, is far below market prices in the area. She further claimed that parts of the land are not being used for their intended purpose but are instead leased out, including for training grounds.

Lawyer Irina Abadzhieva-Reputs, representing the protest’s organizing committee, said there is unequal treatment of citizens and contradictions between secondary legislation and the Constitution. She added that the issue of compensation has been referred to the Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria, with no final ruling yet.

Protesters are calling for the annulment of the public state property designation for parts of the land that are not in use, as well as legislative and administrative measures to resolve the case fairly.

They warned that if no action is taken, they will continue seeking justice both in Bulgarian courts and before international institutions. Kyoseva said protests would continue if their demands are not met.