Stolipinovo

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Stolipinovo (Bulgarian: Столипиново) is a quarter of the Bulgarian town of Plovdiv and the biggest predominantly Roma-inhabited district on the Balkans with a population of about 45,000 people. The district is located in the outskirts of the city, in its northeastern part on the right bank of the Maritsa.

Stolipinovo differs from other Roma communities in Bulgaria as only 5,000^[1] inhabitants identify themselves as Christian and romani-speaking Roma ("Dassikane Roma"), whereas the Muslim and Turkish-speaking majority claims to be of Turkish origin ("Xoraxane Roma").^[2]

Since the end of the socialist era in 1989 there have been almost no investments in the infrastructure of Stolipinovo.^[3] In combination with the boom of illegal housing this led to severe problems with regards to electricity and water supply, wastewater and waste disposal.

Due to accumulated debts for electricity and water surpassing 3 million euro, in 2002 the (then state-owned) local supplier shut down electricity completely for all inhabitants of Stolipinovo. This kind of "kin liability" has been widely regarded as illegal by human rights organisations and led to a spontaneous riot^[4]. After the situation has calmed down, the quarter was given electricity during the night only. This schedule has not been abolished yet, although on October 31, 2006, the Plovdiv Regional Court has decided that this practise is "discriminating".^[5]

The supply with clean drinking water is also problematic, as most water pipes are rotten and people are forced to tap water on the road from hydrants. In most of the illegal buildings there is no water supply at all.

The sewers in Stolipinovo are mostly rotten, illegal buildings are not connected at all. Wastewater runs from the houses on the ground to the sewers in the main streets.