Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

Slovenia and the Roma “Problem”

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Yet another article about the Roma problematic, and the initiative of several mayors to change legislation. Their proposal was thankfully declined by the parliament, as it was pretty much targeted against Roma. The members of the coalition stated that they would put up a proposal by the end of 2023.

The article here complains that not much has been done so far.

Bulgaria, Police, and Roma

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The project “Improving coordination and dialogue between the police and the Roma community”, financed under the “Internal Works” Program of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism,  is equipping and renovating police reception centres  in Roma neighborhoods in Varna.

They are part of a total of 20 reception centres in Roma neighborhoods in oBulgaria – in Sofia, Burgas, Varna, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Vidin, Montana, Sliven and Yambol. The renovated reception areas will create better working conditions for police officers and be a point of contact for local communities when problems arise.

Miss Roma 2024

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Twelve finalists were chosen from more than sixty registered girls from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and even Ireland, who will fight for the title of Roma beauty queen. This competition, which is being held for the twenty-second time, aims to support the self-confidence and pride of Roma girls, to show their beauty and talent, and at the same time to bring Roma culture and traditions closer to the general public.

Romeo and Juliet

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A new reading of “Romeo and Juliet” is being prepared in Belogradchik, Bulgaria. A story of modern Romeo and Juliet, between Roma and Bulgarians will be told by a Bulgarian-Roma theatrical production. The idea is of the People’s Community Center “Razvitie” in Belogradchik.

Well not quite, the Roma Theatre Pralipe had this idea during the siege of Sarajevo.

Isen Gaši

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“Isen Gaši dedicated his entire life to the fight for Roma rights, he was often lonely, but he never gave up on his principles. As the president of the Roma Council, Isen Gaši left an indelible mark on the development, integration, inclusion and socialization of the Roma community in Montenegrin society “, the statement of the Roma Council points out.

May he rest in peace.

Romano Suno – Roma Dream

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Romano suno is a language competition in Romanes, since 1996. “The purpose of the competition is to encourage people to write in Romanes and to use it publicly. Through the texts from the competition, which are published in anthologies and in Romano sun traveling exhibitions, or people hear them at festivals where we organize public readings, the general public can also take a closer look at the world of the Roma,” said coordinator Marie Podlahová.

International Roma Song Day

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The Benczúr House will host the events of the 3rd International Gypsy Song Day in Budapest on August 8. The program series is opened by three concerts in the spring and early summer.

The first performer on March 8 is Mónika Lakatos and the Cigány Hangok, whose aim is to present and keep alive the purest traditions of the Oláh Gypsy culture.

Hungary, Roma, and the Police

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Hungary is increasing the stipends of Roma students studying for becoming policemen. That many Roma want to be members of the Hungarian police can be doubted, and anyhow, the stipends are ridiculous. Around 10’000 HUF for an average grade student. Per month. This amounts to 25 euros per months. And with the current inflation …

Croatia: Theatre R

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Theatre R. a Roma theatre founded in 2018, is preparing a new play co-financed by the European Union under the Impact4values program, which will premiere in the spring in Zagreb and then in Varaždin, Koprivnica, Đurđevac and Čakovec. This play continues the theme of expressing Roma culture in a contemporary and humorous way and successfully equates the problems of young Roma with the problems of other young people in our country.

To that end, they started an anonymous review in about the views of the general population in Croatia on Roma.

Slovenia: Jože Didi Horvath

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The star footballer Jože Didi Horvath died. He was famous, a Roma, and fought against discrimination.
May he rest in peace.

Orphan Milev from Bosnia…

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The National Theater in Subotica started rehearsals for the play “Poor Mileva from Bosnia in our Civilization in 1878” by a woman writer Albina Podgradska. The play is directed by Anđelka Nikolić, and the premiere is scheduled for March 14 at the Jadran stage. Serbian, Hungarian, Roma and Slovak languages are used in the play.

Slovakia, Roma, and Work

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The Whirlpool factory employs 500 Roma in Spiš, Slovakia out of a total of 1’500 employees. It is the key for Slovakia, advises the American Chamber of Commerce. Instead of looking for foreign workforce, Whirlpool looked at the Roma community.

Good!

Parno Grast

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An article in the Vojvodina Press on the Hungarian Roma group Parno Grast from Pasab. “Parno Grast” means a white horse – white color is a symbol of purity, and the horse of freedom. The performers sing in Hungarian and Romanes, even within the same song. The group’s musical roots come from their immediate surroundings, so far they have collected many melodies from Pasab and its surroundings, in the Sabolč-Satmar-Bereg district.

They have a concert in Novi Sad today.

Slovenia, Mayors, and Roma

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The Community of Municipalities of Slovenia (SOS) wants to start talks with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Public Administration on providing additional funds for the municipalities, but both have not yet responded to their calls. The regional meeting was hosted by Novi Sad mayor Gregor Macedoni.

At the meeting, he also drew attention to the Roma issue and problems with illegal border crossings. Regarding the integration of the Roma community, Macedoni warns that it should be carried out urgently with the help of the state, especially since it can also serve as a model for the integration of other groups, for example labor migrants. “This is why we believe that the state will have to listen more to the municipalities of the southeastern region and Posavija,” he said.

Photo Voices

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Another article in the Bulgarian press about Photo Voice – a traveling exhibition of women’s advocacy clubs under the “I have a dream” project, is visiting Rakitovo with an exhibition of photos of 20 professionally successful Romnja.

Fico and Roma

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Slovak Prime Minister Fico’s Government has announced they will provide funds for camera systems. The goal is to increase safety. And how do they determine which localities will get those cameras? Solely on the number of Roma living in settlements there.

This is both populist and racist and stokes discrimination.

New Book on the Genocide

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The book “Samudaripen Roma u Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska” by Dragoljub Acković is the first of its kind that documents the horrific crimes committed by Ustasha regime against Roma. It was presented yesterdayThe book written in an encyclopedic format, very detailed and comprehensive, relying on an exhaustive number of documents, photographs and objects.

Ukraine and a Murder

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A riot in Transcarpathian Ukraine a few days ago was started by Roma to protest the release of murder suspects. Now the Court decided to still keep other suspect in this murder that occurred during a fight on November 27th of last year in custody.

  • Учасників масової бійки в Підвиноградові знову затримають: триває розслідування резонансної справи (ФОТО). In: Golos Karpat. 30.01.2024. https://goloskarpat.info/criminal/65b8c2e63a298/
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