Save Sofia says state bodies seize central parking

Government agencies have commandeered more than 1,000 parking spots in central Sofia that should serve the general public, according to Save Sofia advocacy group leaders Boris Bonev and Andrey Zografski. Transportation officials occupy 33 spaces while entitled to only five, paying monthly fees of 100 leva per spot under an expired 2006 agreement signed by former mayor Boyko Borisov. Current market rates for official subscriptions reach 650 leva and will soon increase to 1,600 leva.

Activists have requested urgent meetings with National Assembly Speaker Raya Nazaryan and Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov to address what they characterize as institutional abuse. Twenty of the transportation ministry’s spaces operate through a legally invalid contract, creating both financial losses and reduced citizen access. Similar appropriations exist near the courthouse and justice ministry facilities.

Zografski urged Mayor Vasil Terziev to cancel the transport ministry arrangement unilaterally, arguing the municipality lacks the authority to allocate public streets this way. Releasing just these disputed areas would provide capacity equivalent to a two-level downtown parking structure, organizers noted.