Category Archives: Bulgaria

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Theatre Program

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A project, “Educational theatre, a tool for improved awareness of the art and culture of the Roma ethnic group in Bulgaria” did a casting for candidate actors. The goal is to develop skills through culture and art, and for theatre to be a path to education. And to stimulate greater social cohesion and mutual understanding between the majority and minority cultures with a focus on the Roma.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria and Roma

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School games under the motto “Sports for everyone” are taking place today at Osogovo Stadium in Kyustendil, Bulgaria. Children from schools that educate children of Roma origin in Kyustendil region, took part in the competitions.

The initiative is carried out under the project “Improving coordination and dialogue between the police and the Roma community”, financed under the program “Home Affairs” of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, and GDNP is a beneficiary of the project. The project envisages improving coordination and dialogue between the police and the Roma community.

The project envisages the construction of 20 stations or their renovation in ten regional directorates in which there are areas with a compact Roma population. “The police inspector is the closest to the people, and when there are no station desks in the Roma neighbourhoods themselves, it becomes difficult for people to access the law enforcement agencies,” the organizers also pointed out.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

I am a Romni

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Dessi, 23, is one of the first Roma teachers in Bulgaria. The teaser of the Deutche Welle interview states that “only about 3 percent Roma in the country have higher education, only 23 percent have secondary education. Added to this is the fact that Roma girls tend to marry off the record very early – a common practice that is illegal but usually tolerated by the state.”

Well, all stereotypes, and total lack of the most basic math skills: They do not know how many Roma there are in the country. So how can they state exact percentages?

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: After the Fight

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A few weeks ago, tow Roma families clashed in Kazanlak, Bulgaria, leaving 2 victims and several wounded. The police and the involved municipalities decided to re-settle these families to avoid other clashes.

Remains to be seen if that works.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe Ukraine

Ukrainian Roma Refugees

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According to this article in the Bulgarian press, about half of the Roma in the Ukraine are currently refugees and about a quarter of them have a relative fighting on the front. This statement was made by Ned’s Korunovska, of the European Institute for Art and Culture.

These numbers seem somewhat stretched. We doubt that many of the Roma from Transcarpathian Ukraine and Bessarabia fled. Some did, we can testify to this. This will need to be followed up.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria, the Elections, and Roma

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The upcoming elections in Bulgaria represent a key moment both for the political crisis in the country and for its Roma. For too long, Roma have been systematically excluded from mainstream politics and left vulnerable to those in power. However, new anti-corruption parties have emerged that offer policies that offer hope for change.

While their efforts are laudable, they must recognize that systemic state failures are inextricably linked to the plight of the Roma and require a comprehensive approach to address them. Failure to do so risks perpetuating anti-Roma corruption, symbolism and racism. The election results will determine the lasting progress and stability of Bulgaria and whether the country can truly become an inclusive and fair democracy that represents all its citizens. The Roma refuse to be marginalized anymore and are determined to challenge the status quo to make their voices heard. It is up to the political class to recognize their ability and determination and work towards a more inclusive and just political system.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Bleak future

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Bulgarian elections are coming, and with them articles about vote buying, especially in Roma communities. On one of the dark days of the last election week, the leaders of the Roma community in the neighborhood of the village of Kalipetrovo, located near Silistra, gathered for a cup of tea to share their grievance that “they promised to buy them a bicycle, but another time”. This other time, however, there are not even promises.

They are happy with their mayor, but one bird does not make spring. And they want simple things – a better life for the grandchildren they are raising while their sons and daughters are in England and somewhere else in the world.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria, the State, and Mahala

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The chief prosecutor of the Plovdiv Region, in South Eastern Bulgaria ordered garbage containers to be placed in the Roma neighbourhood of Stolipinovo, one of the largest Mahala in the country. They inspected the neighbourhood and found numerous illegal landfills in the area.

By order of the District Prosecutor’s Office the municipality has been notified to take immediate action and prepare a plan with a view to ensuring normal living conditions in the neighbourhood.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Police Action

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The Bulgarian police raised several mahala (Roma settlements) in Bulgaria in Plovdiv, Kazanlak, Gurkovo etc. They were searching for drugs, but also vote buying and other offences.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Kazanlak: Tensions Remain

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In order to de-escalate the tension between the warring Roma families after the mass fight in Kazanlak, mayors from the area and the leadership of the police in the city discussed emergency measures, bTV reported.

The enmity between the two Roma families has been going on for 30 years. “I cannot live that my child died, that my child was beaten in a fight. I have two sons in hospital, one died and my other son is now with his father in hospital,” said the mother of the man killed in the mass fight.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Another Fight

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Another fight between Roma families broke out on Thursday in Devin. 18 people were detained afterwards. Luckily, this time no one died.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: The Brawl

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After the fight in Kazanlak between Roma families in which one man was killed, the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained 13 people during an action in Taža and Manolovo, two neighbouring villages. The families who caused the mass fight in Kazanlak 2 days ago, after which one person died, live there.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Kazanlak – After the Fight

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Kazanlak mayor’s, Galina Stoyanova, had a strong reaction to the bloody fight between the two Roma families in the city centre. The Roma do not live and are not residents of the city, reported a “Focus” reporter.

“As mayor of the Municipality of Kazanlak, I am concerned about the peace and safety of citizens and the prevention of escalation of public dissatisfaction or clashes between people, as was the case on 03/20/2023 and ended with a fatal outcome for one of the participants.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Brawl

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A fight between two Roma families left a father of two dead and 6 wounded. The fight between two rival Roma families happened in Kazanlak, Bulgaria. They went at each other with shovels and axes.

Not good.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Roma Teachers in Bulgaria

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The Trust for Social Alternative Foundation in Bulgaria is funding the “Young Roma Educators” program. According to the program director, Evgenia Volen, Roma children, like all children, have a need from a young age to recognize their potential in a significant adult who serves as a role model. They want to be accepted as they are, and to see examples from their own community that they can become meaningful and economically independent people in the place where they live. She believes that teachers who come from the local community are part of the environment that can engage children in learning.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Portrait

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A portrait of a young Romni in Bulgaria. She has completed her university degree and is now a teacher. What the article and its introduction actually says is not quite accurate and gives a wrong view, perpetuating stereotypes. The article states that “Only about 3% of the Roma in the country have a university degree, only 23% have high school” which is the usual idiotic statement, as the actual number of Roma is not known. They also add that “In the case of Romnja, there is also the fact that they are usually unofficially married very early, sometimes as children – a widespread practice that is not legal, but is usually tolerated by the state”. Well, the practise is not widespread. Children marriages are almo0srt exclusively done among Vlach Roma, a minority in Bulgaria. In addition, the unofficial marriage is often simply having a boyfriend …

Normally, Deutsche Welle is a bit better …

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Demolition

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It is an election year for local government in Bulgaria. This means it is also the start of a new bout of demolition of “illegal” Roma houses. The mayor of the Varna “Mladost” district, Hristo Hristov, announced that the removal of 50 objects in the “Maksuda” ghetto will soon take place. Prior to this, deeds of municipal ownership will be issued on the land to provide a legal basis for the demolition in court. About 200 buildings have been removed in recent years.

This is bad.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Brawls

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More articles on the fights between Roma in Plovdiv and in Montana. The fight in Plovdiv was broken up early, while the one in Montana escalated and saw one policeman wounded and 4 Roma rrested.
Bad.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Brawls

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Two articles in the Bulgarian press about fights between Roma families: One in Montana, in the north of the country, and one in Plovdiv, in the South East. The fights are apparently brutal. This is really not good for Roma.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Brawl

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Exactly what one doesn’t need. A brawl between Roma families in Sofia’s central railway station. According to an eyewitness, a group of men of Roma origin attacked two boys with clubs and metal pipes.  One boy called his relatives, who came and the fight escalated. Police and gendarmerie arrived at the scene.

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