An editorial saying that the public debate about Roma has not change since half a century ago, appart from the switch from “Cigani” [Gypsies] to Roma.
True but sad.
in Šentjernej in Slovenia, where, according to media “the Roma issue has reached its peak”, a protest rally will be held on Tuesday, July 15, at 7 p.m., organized by the local Šentjernej People’s Initiative. The reason for it is the increasingly frequent violent events in the municipality and the fact that state authorities are not taking action. The fundamental rights of citizens, such as security, public order and peace, equality before the law and social justice, are at risk.
A letter to the editor on a Roma musician who gave a concert below the windows of an apartment block in Sopot, a Polish town on the Baltic sea. The author of the letter takes it with humour, saying it is not Roma, it is the noise, and adds other sources of disturbance including nationalist marches…
Two articles about a court sentencing parents for cohabitation with underage girls (i.e. under 14 years old).The court in Kyustendil has handed down four sentences since the beginning of the year for cohabitation with underage girls, reports the BTA correspondent in Kyustendil.
In three of the cases, the girl was a minor, i.e. under 14 years of age, and the magistrates have imposed heavier penalties – suspended sentences for the young adults. The sentences are for a period of between three and seven months, with a three-year probationary period. The fourth sentence is a fine.
The other case is in Dupnitsa, which imposed probation and a fine on parents who facilitated their minor son to live as a conjugal with a girl under 16 years of age without entering into marriage.
Two articles in the Bulgarian press about fights between Roma. In one case, a Rom with an axe smashed the window of the car of a rival in the Nessembar province; in the other, a Roma was stabbed in Burgas.
These kind of news are really bad for Roma.
A concert last Saturday in Croatia’s capital Zagreb by Marko Perković “Thompson”, attended by an estimated 500’000 people leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Nazi salutes, Ustaša symbols and songs.
Scary.
According to the acting director general of the police Petrič, statistics really show that southeast Slovenia is more burdened by the number of crimes per 1,000 inhabitants than other parts of the country. The security situation in the municipality of Šentjernej is “somewhat complicated”, so the police will increase their presence there, said Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar after today’s meeting with Šentjernej Mayor Jože Simončič, which was also attended by the first police chief Damjan Petrič. The municipality is experiencing an increased number of attacks on citizens.
SDS MP Anja Bah Žibert shared a post on Facebook in which she stated that a Roma attack on a 72-year-old man allegedly took place in Ljubljana. She also attached a photo showing the alleged victim with a severely swollen eye, and according to the MP, he allegedly suffered a fractured cheekbone and other injuries.
There are several articles – but no confirmation so far as to whether it was Roma or why the man was attacked.
Dafina Paskaleva’s life was not easy: he grew up in an orphanage, because his Roma parents apparently abandoned him as a baby. Everyone told him that he would never amount to anything. Today, he is a teacher who believes in his students – and they in him.
An interview with the musicians Silvia and Vanessa Šarköziová, two Romnja who tour Europe with the groups “Gypsy Devils”. Not the most profound interview, as one of the question is: how are Slovak women perceived aboard? And the answer by Silvia is, that she doesn’t quite fit the perceptions.
The Roma Council of Montenegro has strongly condemned the public statement of Veljo Stanišić, winner of the highest state award – the Thirteenth of July Award – who, commenting on Miloš Karadaglić’s decision to refuse the award, said in a public television appearance on TV Gradska: “That’s how Gypsies work.”
In the centre of Pilsen, Czechia, after the AraFest 2025 Roma culture festival, which took place on Republic Square in the very centre of the city, police had to intervene because of a fight between tow Romani families.
Shame.
Yet another article about the Roma “Problem” in Slovenia. According to the article, Dolenjska and Posavje have been facing an increase in crime among the Roma for a long time, there are no comprehensive solutions, although the mayors of SE Slovenia and Posavje have submitted proposals for legislative amendments to the National Assembly. The coalition rejected everything.
They interviewed a MP on that topic.
Another one of those articles in the Slovene press. About the “shocking” testimonies around Roma in Southeastern Slovenia. Here a MP is interviewed and claims no government has done anything to resolve the problem. The problem is that no one has done anything to reduce the bias against Roma and to integrate them.
The story of a Bulgarian businessman who paid a young Roma child to paint over a traffic sign prohibiting paring on his street so he can’t be accused of vandalism…
Georgi Kochev and Sasho Chirkov – two young representatives of the Roma community – organized a campaign to clean up the Plovdiv Roma neighbourhood of Stolipinovo on July 5, The initiative was open to anyone who wanted to get involved in creating a cleaner and more welcoming urban environment.
An article in the French le Monde on the nomination of the first openly Roma minister in the Romanian government. His name is Petre-Florin Manole, social democrat and minister of work.
One of the residents of the Roma settlement of Goriča Vas physically attacked a social worker who was allegedly checking in the Roma settlement what kind of car the Roma family involved in an incident was using. The newspaper asks the mother, the social worker, and the Police. Meanwhile, the mayor of Ribnica has also spoken out again, urging the government once again: “Take action before it’s really too late.” He isa the one who advocates cutting water and other services to Roma who don’t “behave”…
Another report of a man beaten up by Roma in Slovenia. The attack took place a month ago, on June 10, but according to the victim, he initially did not want to speak publicly about it. After much thought, he gathered his courage, as he just wants those responsible in Ljubljana, both the government and other bodies and institutions, to realize that the Roma problem in SE Slovenia is serious and that it is really high time something was done for the better.
This is bad.
The president of the Roma Association of Slovenia, Jožek Horvat – Muc, called for the abolition or restructuring of the working group months ago. “Roma issues should be addressed at a higher level, i.e. as a government commission, which should be led by one of the ministers. The area of resolving Roma issues should not be under the Ministry of the Interior or a repressive body. The current interdepartmental working group has no authority and no decision-making power. This means that it has no effect,” said Horvat.
Meanwhile, the Ministers of the Interior and Justice Boštjan Poklukar and Andreja Katič, State Prosecutor General Dr. Katarina Bergant, State Secretary in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister Jure Leben, Acting Director General of the Police Damjan Petrič, Acting Head of the Government Office for Nationalities Danica Polak Gruden met with representatives of the Municipality of Ribnica, led by Mayor Sam Pogorelc.
At the meeting, which took place in a constructive spirit, they discussed Roma issues, solutions for increasing security, respecting the law and promoting coexistence in the local environment.
Well, something is broken in Slovenia. See the other posts.
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