Roma families from Sofia's "Zaharna Fabrika" residential district, who were left homeless after their illegally built homes were demolished on April 15 this year, are launching a five-day protest. The demonstration is set to begin in the afternoon on Slivnitsa Boulevard.

Although the European Court of Human Rights and Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty have called on the Bulgarian authorities to provide them with shelter, the affected families continue to live in tents. The municipal administration states it cannot offer housing, as most of the individuals are officially registered in other settlements.

“We’ve been waiting for a response from Sofia Municipality for twenty-three days. Our situation is tragic. Our children have been sleeping outside for twenty-three days now,” protesters told BNR.

• Citizens will show their support for Roma families from "Zaharna Fabrika" tonight

• Demolition of illegal Roma settlement underway in Sofia