Category Archives: Bulgaria

In the village of Kravoder, villagers complain about Roma stealing from their properties. In a surveillance video, three Roma are caught trying to enter an empty property before fleeing realizing that they were filmed. It seems that the authorities do not intervene, which has apparently a reason: Locals claim that the Roma regularly do work for free for the village head, who in turn turns a blind eye to their actions, so they feel free to do whatever they want with impunity.

Anyhow, this is not good.

• В Краводер пропищяха от ромски набези, ето какво заснеха камери ВИДЕО. In: Blitz. 23.01.2023. https://blitz.bg/obshtestvo/pak-bezchinstvo-v-kravoder-propishchyakha-ot-romski-nabezi-eto-kakvo-zasnekha-kameri-video_news932951.html

Over 200 victims of domestic violence have received legal assistance from mobile teams of lawyers and Roma mediators in the regions of Stara Zagora, Veliko Tarnovo and Varna, the Ministry of Justice informed.  A total of 40 lawyers, together with Roma mediators, tour the remote settlements and Roma neighborhoods in the three regions, so as to shorten the distance as much as possible with the people who need to protect their rights, but do not know how.

• Мобилни групи от 40 адвокати и ромски медиатор оказват помощ в случаи на домашно насилие. In: Focus. 25.11.2022. https://www.focus-news.net/novini/Bylgaria/Mobilni-grupi-ot-40-advokati-i-romski-mediator-okazvat-pomosht-v-sluchai-na-domashno-nasilie-1475371

An epidemic outbreak of hepatitis A was registered in the Roma district of Kosharnik in Montana. The Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC) provided 300 hygiene packages and health and educational materials to its residents, reports the BRC.

Preventive and anti-epidemic measures have already been taken on site to limit the spread of the infection among the vulnerable communities in the Roma neighborhood. Each of the hygiene packages provided is individual and includes hand sanitizer, soap, washing powder, shampoo, wet wipes, reusable face masks, etc.

• Епидемичен взрив от хепатит А в ромски квартал в Монтана. In: ffnews. 28.10.2022. https://offnews.bg/zdrave/epidemichen-vzriv-ot-hepatit-a-v-romski-kvartal-v-montana-788251.html

For over two hours, the Bulgarian Vide-President Iliana Yotova discussed with Romane girls and women the problems they face and possible solutions. Yotova was a guest at a national meeting of Roma women “Girls with dreams: let’s turn the page”, which was held at the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”. The seminar, organized by the Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance, brought together participants from all over the country. The management of “Amalipe” thanked the vice president for his constant support over the years.

• Вицепрезидентът подкрепи ромски момичета и жени в борбата им за равноправие. In: BTA. 20.10.2022. https://bta.bg/bg/news/bulgaria/oficial-messages/347154-vitseprezidentat-podkrepi-romski-momicheta-i-zheni-v-borbata-im-za-ravnopravie

Very recently, a discussion started in Bulgaria as to whether the singer Preslava, who is famous in Bulgaria might be a part or fully Romani. She did not comment on it …

And frankly, so what?

• Лъсна истината! От ромски произход ли е Преслава?! СКРИЙНШОТ. In: Blitz. 15.10.2022. https://show.blitz.bg/folk/lsna-istinata-ot-romski-proizxod-li-e-preslava-skriinsot

There were Roma protests in Sofia following the death of a Roma taxi driver after a fight. The protests ended late last night without serious damage or arrests, the Ministry of the Interior reports. It is known that after the case of the deceased taxi driver, his relatives and friends blocked the capital’s intersections.

• Няма задържани в София след снощните ромски протести. In: Plovdiv 24. 10.10.2022. https://www.plovdiv24.bg/novini/Bylgaria/Nyama-zadurzhani-v-Sofiya-sled-snoshtnite-romski-protesti-1421142

Charles, at that time Prince of Wales, visited the Roma neighbourhood of Stolipinovo in Plovdiv in 1998. He was invited there by Roma and even attended a wedding.

• The largest Gypsy ghetto in Europe is waiting for Charles again but now as a king. In: European Times. 11.09.2022. https://www.europeantimes.news/2022/09/the-largest-gypsy-ghetto-in-europe-is-waiting-for-charles-again-but-now-as-a-king/

Two Roma were murdered in Nova Zagora, Bulgaria, during a fight between two Roma groups. Three persons have now been arrested. This is bad, as it casts Roma as dangerous criminals, and this in a country where populism is on the rise.

• Три ареста за 2-ма убити при скандал между два ромски рода в Нова Загора. In: BNR. 26.08.2022. https://bnr.bg/horizont/post/101696436/tri-aresta-sled-2-ma-ubiti-pri-skandal-mejdu-dva-romski-roda-v-nova-zagora
• Има задържан за бесния екшън между ромски фамилии в Нова Загора. In: Varna 24. https://www.varna24.bg/novini/Bylgaria/Ima-zadurzhan-za-besniya-ekshun-mezhdu-romski-familii-v-Nova-Zagora-1350691

The Bulgarian press seems obsessed by Roma weddings. This time, the story of a couple who have a restaurant in Plovdiv close to a Mahala – a Roma neighbourhood – and who complain about the noise from the celebrations in the Roma Mahala. They say they call the police regularly, to no avail.

• Пиянски крясъци и бесни ромски маанета съсипват живота на семейство българи в Пловдивско. In: Blitx. 21.08.2022. https://blitz.bg/obshtestvo/piyanski-kryastsi-i-besni-romski-maaneta-ssipvat-zhivota-na-semeystvo-blgari-v-plovdivsko_news904591.html

A huge wedding gathered the eyes of passers-by on the capital’s Vitosha Boulevard this afternoon. About hundred wedding guests sang and danced to the sounds of an orchestra in the centre of Sofia. Foreign tourists were apparently amazed and took photographs of the celebration. Strolling residents of the capital spontaneously join the party, and so the guests, although uninvited, became hundreds.

Apparently dozens of calls to the police were made and the noise of the celebration echoed throughout the centre, but the police never responded or intervened.

• 100-тина ромски сватбари пяха и танцуваха в центъра на София – събраха погледите на чужденци. In: BG on Air. 12.08.2022. https://www.bgonair.bg/a/2-bulgaria/275309-100-tina-romski-svatbari-pyaha-i-tantsuvaha-v-tsentara-na-sofiya-sabraha-pogledite-na-chuzhdentsi

An article about a fight involving pitchforks and axes between Roma in the Bulgarian city of Lom. As usual, this casts a bad light on Roma, and fails to mention the issues faced by Roma in theses Mahalas.

• Ексклузивни подробности за бесния ромски екшън с вили и брадви в Лом. In: Blitz. 09.08.2022. https://blitz.bg/obshtestvo/ekskluzivni-podrobnosti-za-besniya-romski-ekshn-s-vili-i-bradvi-v-lom_news902534.html