Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections and Roma

Published by:

Serbian Elections and Roma

The Roma Party claims that socially vulnerable citizens and Roma were pressured to attend a pre-election rally of the SNS in Belgrade, raising concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable groups in elections.

The extraordinary parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25 are expected to be a marathon, according to Srđan Šajn, president of the Roma Party, citing sources close to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

Šajn claims that the SNS will employ a strategy of ‘exhaustion’ by repeating elections at many polling stations, undermining the will of the citizens.

On the other side, Vučić’s team in Bujanovac, led by prominent Roma community representative Ibro Idić, is actively campaigning for the SNS party ahead of elections.

The team has set up a stand in a predominantly Roma neighborhood to present their plans and assist citizens with state aid applications.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Dimitar Georgiev

Published by:

Dimitar Georgiev

Dimitar Georgiev is a Roma activist, filmmaker, and producer known for his work on Roma rights and culture.

He is a co-founder of the ‘Human Rights Project’ and has participated in initiatives aimed at protecting civil rights and combating discrimination.

Georgiev discusses the history, culture, and contemporary life of the Roma community in Europe, highlighting the work of French director Tony Gatlif.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Manifestation

Published by:

Manifestation

Residents of the “Iztok” Roma neighbourhood in Kyustendil—home to 15,000 people—organized a “Say No to Drugs!” protest. Locals report a rising number of drug addicts, including entire families, as well as an increase in fatalities. The protesters called for institutional intervention to ensure more neighborhood residents are enrolled in drug rehabilitation programs.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

City of Pain

Published by:

City of Pain

The autobiographical bestseller “City of Pain” is set to be adapted into a television series, with filming already underway in Belgrade.

Author Meti Kamberi, a Rom from Niš and a longtime journalist of the Kurir, spent four years developing the script, transforming his most intimate memories into a story for the screen. The series is directed by Luka Mihailović and produced by TS Media and Miloš Avramović’s Režim, highlighting Kamberi’s challenging upbringing in Niš.

News Eastern Europe Ukraine

Recruitment Office

Published by:

Recruitment Office

An incident occurred in Khust, Transcarpathia, Ukraine, where a man opened fire near a military recruitment center and attempted to enter the building, prompting a swift police response.

The man fired several shots into the air with a starter pistol before trying to breach the facility, but was apprehended by law enforcement on the scene.

No injuries were reported, and the individual was charged with minor hooliganism after the event.

It was apparently a Rom.

Lithuania News Eastern Europe

“Gypsy Fest”

Published by:

“Gypsy Fest”

The recent International “Gypsy Fest” in Vilnius was a colorful highlight of the Folk Fair, celebrating its 10th anniversary with performances from various artists and groups from Lithuania and other countries.

Notable performances included the famous SARE ROMA group and ensembles from Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic, Germany, and Serbia, showcasing the rich culture of the Roma.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Roma Projects

Published by:

Slovak Roma Projects

A total of €335,845,065 was utilized last year to implement the action plan for the Strategy for Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation up to 2030. This is according to the monitoring report on the implementation of the action plans for the Strategy for Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation up to 2030 for the year 2025. The government is scheduled to review the document on Wednesday, October 7.

The Government Office of the Slovak Republic, which is submitting the report, specifies in the document that out of 159 activities designated for 2025, ten were successfully completed, 125 were in the implementation phase, 22 were in preparation, and two were assessed as unfulfilled. These tasks related to the field of education—specifically, supporting the acquisition of the Slovak language by pupils from Roma communities via their mother tongue through the creation of innovative teaching materials, and implementing activities to help pupils (including those from marginalized Roma communities) attain secondary vocational education.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Job Market

Published by:

Job Market

The United School in Čaklov is launching a project aimed at helping disadvantaged students integrate into the job market, with a budget of over 315,000 euros over 32 months.

The initiative will collaborate with a civic association working with Roma communities and a private sector representative providing vocational training. The project aims to strengthen social inclusion, connect education with practical skills, and create a pilot model for a simulated school integration social enterprise.

It will be interesting to see how many disadvantaged” students, aka Roma will find a job. One could then say if this was an efficient use of the money.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Corruption?

Published by:

Corruption?

Former Hungarian cultural minister Balázs Hankó has been accused of misusing cultural funding to support his political campaign, particularly through a grant to a Roma cultural organization.

The Roma Inkubator Cultural and Artistic Association, led by István Jakab, distributed gift cards to voters in support of Hankó’s candidacy shortly before the elections.

Following the controversy, police investigated Jakab for potential electoral misconduct, and the association later declined a significant grant from Hankó due to the scandal.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma in Serbia

Published by:

Roma in Serbia

The president of the Roma Party, Srđan Šajn, criticized a recent rally by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Belgrade, claiming it incited violence against socially vulnerable groups, including Roma.

Šajn alleged that many attendees were pressured to attend the rally and were given shirts to conceal their true social status.

He urged socially vulnerable individuals, including Roma, to vote for freedom and equality in the upcoming elections, emphasizing the importance of their voices in achieving social justice.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Kostadin Kostadinov

Published by:

Kostadin Kostadinov

Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of the political party ‘Vazrazhdane’ and presidential candidate, attended a peaceful protest in the Sofia neighborhood of Lyulin, organized by local residents.

The protest was in response to illegal Roma communities causing disturbances, including harassment and public disorder, affecting the residents’ quality of life and had nothing to do with the protest from Roma about loan sharks.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Romania – Conference

Published by:

Romania – Conference

The National Agency for Roma, in partnership with the National Center for Roma Culture “Romano Kher”, organized a series of conferences in Dolj County focused on the historical slavery of Roma and the need for reconciliation through recognition and reparative policies.

The event lasted three days and aimed to shed light on this aspect of history.

Additionally, there will be a discussion about the life and work of Lucian Raicu, a Romanian critic and writer of Jewish descent, in the segment “A book…a minority.”

News Eastern Europe Romania

Roma Students and Police …

Published by:

Roma Students and Police …

In the Maramureș County for the 2026-2027 school year, there are 3,872 Roma students enrolled, including 306 high school students.

During the computer allocation process on July 16, 40 candidates were assigned to places specifically allocated for Roma students, with four coming from other counties.

The local prefecture is actively disseminating information about admission opportunities to Roma communities, with online registration open until October 4, 2026.

Cristina Moldovan, a representative of the Maramureș County Prefecture, also presented information provided by the Maramureș County Police Inspectorate regarding the allocation of places for Roma candidates in the admission competitions for two educational institutions.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

King Credit

Published by:

King Credit

A gang known as King Credit in the “Lyulin” Roma neighbourhood in Sofia is reportedly terrorizing the local Roma population by offering small loans with exorbitant interest rates, leading to violence and threats of murder when debts are unpaid.

Victims have shared harrowing accounts of physical abuse, public humiliation, and threats to their lives, indicating a systematic pattern of exploitation targeting the most vulnerable individuals.

Authorities have received multiple reports about King Credit’s activities, and there is a growing movement among the community to speak out against these abuses.

Bulgaria France News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Bulgarian Roma in France

Published by:

Bulgarian Roma in France

The Bulgarian Roma community in Moissac, France, is in conflict with local authorities, primarily due to issues of integration and social welfare abuse, as highlighted by Mayor Romain Lopez (Rassemblement National – an extreme right party).

The mayor has increased police presence and surveillance to control gatherings of the community, while community members feel targeted and discriminated against, claiming they must hide their origins to find work.

Tensions are rising as the local population perceives the Bulgarian community as a burden on social services, with some locals preferring workers from other countries, and the upcoming presidential elections may further exacerbate these issues.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

Published by:

Serbian Elections

Srđan Šajn, President of the Roma Party, stated today that the party would support the “Students Win” (Studenti pobeđuju) electoral list in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Almost all anti-regime parties have supported the student list, indicating a collective effort towards establishing a rule of law that amplifies the voices of marginalized groups, including the Roma community.

The decision to support the student list is framed as a matter of honor and responsibility, emphasizing the importance of integrity in political representation.

The statement highlights a commitment to defending the dignity of Roma in Serbia, advocating for their right to vote without compromising their values.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Council for Roma Minority Affairs

Published by:

Council for Roma Minority Affairs

The Czech Government Council for Roma Minority Affairs discussed priorities including education, employment, anti-discrimination efforts, and increased representation of Roma in government and law enforcement.

Key issues addressed included the ongoing European Commission proceedings regarding the education of Romani children and the socioeconomic challenges faced by the Roma community.

New council member Martin Mata emphasized the need for practical solutions to youth unemployment and the importance of connecting education with job opportunities for Roma youth.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Human Rights

Published by:

Human Rights

The House of Roma Culture (HORC) invites young people and the Roma community to participate in an event focused on human rights and the rights of national minorities, scheduled for October 2, 2026, in Belgrade.

The event aims to educate young Roma about their rights and encourage their active participation in democratic processes, featuring workshops on electoral rights and minority rights.

HORC emphasizes the importance of young people knowing their rights and being involved in discussions about their future, while also calling on experienced Roma activists to share their knowledge and experiences.

News Eastern Europe Poland

Memory Camp

Published by:

Memory Camp

The XXVII International Romani Memory Camp will take place in Tarnów from October 2-4, 2026, focusing on the history, culture, and contemporary issues of the Romani community, including the Holocaust remembrance.

The event will feature various presentations and discussions by scholars on topics such as the documentation of the Romani Holocaust, language policy, discrimination in education, and the role of local media in combating exclusion.

Participants will also embark on a tour of the Małopolska Trail of Romani Martyrdom, visiting significant locations related to Romani history in the region.

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Sentenced

Published by:

Sentenced

The County Court in Karlovac has sentenced three members of the Amić family to a total of nine years and nine months in prison for various crimes, including incitement to murder. The family is one of the most powerful and rich Roma families in the region.

Darko Amić received a sentence of five years and six months, while his wife Nada and their son-in-law Ivan Odorović received three years and six months and nine months, respectively.

The case has attracted significant public attention due to the Amić family’s wealth and notoriety, particularly after a New Year’s celebration involving gunfire was shared on social media.

rroma.org
en_GBEN
de_DEDE fr_FRFR en_GBEN