On 19 October 2026, the public discussion “The Voice of Druzhba 1” took place at Iskar House of Culture as part of the project “Together for Iskar District: Participation, Dialogue and Solutions”. The project is implemented by the Bulgarian School of Politics “Dimitry Panitza” with the financial support of Sofia Municipality – Europe 2026 Program, in partnership with Iskar District and Elin Pelin – 1926 Community Centre in Busmantsi.
The meeting was attended by Petko Kraev, Mayor of Iskar District and Deputy Mayor Tsveta Tocheva. It provided an opportunity for residents to raise issues affecting their daily lives and share their views on the development of the neighbourhood. The main topics discussed included waste collection and the maintenance of cleanliness in public spaces, the expropriation of private properties for urban development purposes, overdevelopment and the shortage of parking spaces. The discussion also addressed whether district mayors should be directly elected by citizens or appointed.
The meeting highlighted the importance of dialogue between citizens and local authorities on issues that directly affect the quality of life in the neighbourhood. Such discussions provide an opportunity for residents to raise their concerns with representatives of the district administration and for their opinions and suggestions to be taken into account when seeking solutions.
The public discussion in Druzhba 1 was part of a series of citizen meetings organised in Iskar District within the framework of the project “Together for Iskar District: Participation, Dialogue and Solutions”. The project aims to encourage citizen participation, strengthen dialogue between residents and the district administration, and support efforts to find solutions to local challenges.
