Sofia Rocked by 'Trash for the Trash' Protest Over Waste Crisis and Election Irregularities

Protesters Confront Authorities Over Dual Crises

Sofia, Bulgaria – On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, the Bulgarian capital witnessed a significant protest organized by the BOEC civic movement, drawing attention to two pressing national issues: an escalating waste management crisis in Sofia and alleged electoral violations in Pazardzhik. The demonstration, held outside the Interior Ministry building, began with a brief confrontation between protesters and police, who blocked demonstrators from directly accessing the ministry.

Participants, carrying bags symbolizing bin bags and chanting the motto 'Trash for the Trash,' demanded accountability and change. The protest also saw calls for the resignation of Interior Minister Daniel Mitov.

Sofia's Waste Management Crisis Deepens

The waste management crisis, particularly affecting Sofia's Lyulin and Krasno Selo boroughs, has been a focal point of public frustration since October 5, 2025. The crisis erupted after the Sofia Municipality refused to sign new waste collection contracts, citing that the sole remaining bidder demanded prices more than three times the market rate. Mayor Vassil Terziev publicly stated that the municipality would not succumb to 'protection racket fees' or 'mafia practices.'

In response to the accumulating waste, an emergency two-week waste management plan was implemented. The situation has prompted widespread civic engagement, with citizens and organizations like Gorata.bg stepping in to assist with cleanup efforts. The Ombudsman, Velislava Delcheva, has also intervened, addressing the Mayor regarding numerous complaints from residents. Even prisoners have been involved in cleanup activities in the Krasno Selo district. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has offered government support to address the issue.

Allegations of Electoral Fraud in Pazardzhik

The protest also highlighted concerns over alleged electoral violations during the October 12 municipal council elections in Pazardzhik. Police in Pazardzhik reported receiving 34 complaints of electoral irregularities on the day of the elections. These included 12 reports related to the village of Ognyanovo and 16 concerning suspected vote buying in the regional town and several surrounding villages, including Saraya, Bratanitsa, Mokrishte, Malo Konare, Dragor, and Glavinitsa.

The elections saw the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) emerge victorious. The integrity of the Pazardzhik elections has been under scrutiny, especially after the Supreme Administrative Court annulled the previous municipal council elections from October 29, 2023, in a ruling issued on July 17, 2025. President Rumen Radev critically described the Pazardzhik elections as 'the embodiment of a conquered state.' The poor performance of GERB, which ranked sixth, led its leader Boyko Borissov to threaten withdrawing 'formal' government support. Observers largely attribute the MRF's success to widespread electoral violations, including vote buying and coercion.

BOEC's Ongoing Activism

The BOEC civic movement, known for its counter-corruption stance, has been at the forefront of these protests. Its leader, Georgi Georgiev, has been vocal in condemning what the movement perceives as systemic issues. Prior to the October 15 demonstration, BOEC organized another protest on October 10, 2025, outside the headquarters of MRF - New Beginning in Sofia. During this earlier protest, demonstrators painted a large 'D' and threw trash bags at the building, directly targeting Delyan Peevski, a prominent figure associated with the MRF.