On October 22, 2026, the public discussions “The Voice of Abdovitsa” and “The Voice of Dimitar Milenkov” were held at the 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 meetings were attended by Boris Tsvetkov, Deputy Mayor of Iskar District. The discussions provided residents of both neighborhoods with an opportunity to raise issues related to everyday challenges in the area and to share ideas and proposals for improving the local living environment.
Among the main topics discussed were public safety and security. Residents of Abdovitsa expressed serious concerns regarding the suspension of the community-funded video surveillance system, which had been established through the efforts and resources of local citizens, as well as the increasing number of incidents involving disruptive behavior by teenagers. Concerns were also raised about the insufficient police presence in the area and the need for more effective law enforcement. Residents further highlighted the unsafe use of electric scooters by children and the movement of horse-drawn carts throughout the neighborhoods, including cases where they were operated by minors.
Considerable attention was also devoted to the condition of local infrastructure and the public environment. Residents of Abdovitsa called for the cleaning of the riverbed, which has become obstructed by overgrown vegetation, waste and fallen tree trunks, as well as for the acceleration of road infrastructure repairs. Concerns were raised about irregular waste collection services in parts of the neighborhoods and inadequate public transport connections, with buses operating at long intervals even on weekdays.
Participants from Abdovitsa emphasized that many of the improvements achieved in the area are the result of the active work of the local civic association. Additional issues discussed included the transparency of administrative processes, particularly the lack of timely publication of detailed development plans and documents issued under the Spatial Planning Act. Residents also expressed concerns regarding the unlawful fencing of private and municipal properties, as well as the lack of continuity in the work of the local administration.
The discussions reaffirmed the importance of active dialogue between citizens and local authorities in identifying and addressing issues that directly affect residents’ daily lives. Such meetings provide an opportunity for citizens to make their voices heard and for their opinions and proposals to be taken into account when planning and implementing policies and measures in the interest of the local community.
The public discussions with residents of Abdovitsa and Dimitar Milenkov are part of a series of citizen engagement meetings organized within the framework of the project “Together for Iskar District: Participation, Dialogue and Solutions.” The project aims to encourage civic participation, strengthen dialogue between residents and local authorities and support the development of sustainable solutions to local challenges.
