ECHR ruling on Bulgarian Roma settlement demolition

The European Court of Human Rights ruled against Bulgaria concerning the 2023 demolition of a Roma settlement in the Orlandovtsi district of Sofia. The court determined that the destruction violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to respect for private and family life.

The ruling highlighted that 56 plaintiffs were denied the opportunity to challenge the demolitions or receive a prior assessment of the impact on their families. The court criticized a lack of effective judicial protection, noting that residents were excluded from administrative proceedings and could not access demolition orders until after they were executed.

As a result, the court awarded each of the 56 plaintiffs 10,000 euros in compensation and ordered Bulgaria to pay 18,000 euros in legal costs. The court identified the incident as part of a systemic issue and urged legislative changes to ensure individuals facing home removals have access to judicial review to determine if such actions are lawful and proportionate, regardless of formal property documentation.