site.btaMRF-New Beginning Leader Peevski Alerts Prosecuting Magistracy over Toplofikacia Sofia Renovation and Heating Suspension in Druzhba 2

Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski has submitted an alert to the prosecuting magistracy regarding the upcoming renovation of Toplofikacia Sofia district heating company and the planned suspension of heating for nearly three months in Sofia’s Druzhba 2 district, MRF–New Beginning said in a press release on Tuesday.

According to the press release, Peevski asked prosecutors to investigate whether the company is being deliberately driven into bankruptcy, as well as the stated intention of Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev to offer the service under concession.

Peevski commented that the heating crisis in Druzhba 2 was “yet another failure” of Mayor Terziev, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria, and their partners from Save Sofia. He argued that in two years they had failed to prevent or resolve a single issue facing the capital, and were now “trying to legitimize yet another act of plunder”.

On Monday, residents of Sofia’s Druzhba 2 borough blocked Tsarigradsko Shose Boulevard to protest plans to cut heating and hot water for three months. Protesters reported that Sofia Municipality is planning repairs just before the start of the heating season, according to Nikolay Georgiev from the Druzhba 2 Public Council. They opposed a three-month shutdown of heating and water, argued that emergency repairs should take only a few days, and requested advance information on the timing, location, and duration of hot water outages.

Iskar district mayor Petar Kraev reported that Toplofikacia had registered a high frequency of breakdowns in the area. He clarified that the repairs would not disrupt heating for all residents for 90 days; instead, each group of blocks would experience service interruptions lasting between 10 and 15 days.

Earlier in the day, Executive Director of Toplofikacia Sofia Petar Petrov said that heating supply in Sofia’s Druzhba 2 residential district will be suspended for between seven and about 15 days per household during a three-month repair project. The service will initially be stopped for the entire district for around three days while shut-off valves are installed, he explained.

Meanwhile, Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva referred the matter to Parliament’s Energy Committee after receiving more than 200 complaints in a single day following the announcement of the 90-day repair.

Also on Monday, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said a working group with city councillors has been set up to prepare an external technical, financial and business audit of Toplofikacia Sofia. He stressed that thousands of families in Druzhba 2 face the “absurd situation” of being left without heating and hot water for almost three months in the middle of winter.