Category Archives: News Eastern Europe
North Macedonia and Romanes
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of North macedonia emphasised at the commemoration of the International Day of the Romani Language that taking care of the language is also taking care of the future of Roma culture and its values. With the support of education, cultural manifestations and international initiatives, he said we can be sure that the Romani language will continue to be part of our cultural wealth.
- Mickoski: Briga za romski jezik je i briga za budućnost romske culture. In: Sloboden Pecat. 05.11.2024. https://www.slobodenpecat.mk/hr/mickoski-grizhata-za-romskiot-jazik-e-i-grizha-za-idninata-na-romskata-kultura/
International Romani Language Day
An article in the Slovak press on the creation and adoption of November 5th as the international Romanes Day.
- Začiatok odhaľovania indického pôvodu rómskeho jazyka sa viaže k 18. storočiu, keď István Vályi, ktorý pochádzal z okolia dnešného Komárna, odišiel do Holandska študovať teológiu. In: 05.11.2024. https://www.teraz.sk/spravy/v-roku-2009-vyhlasili-5-november-za-me/833888-clanok.html
Slovakia and a Roma Neighbourhood
The postman does not come to them, taxi companies refuse to take them home. Residents of the Farárske district of Trnava are requesting the intervention of the prosecutor’s office. The news say that Roma in that neighbourhood are destroying cars, fighting, etc. And that the police doesn’t even go in that neighbourhood.
Bad.
- Nechodí k nim poštár, taxislužby ich odmietajú odviezť domov. Obyvatelia trnavskej časti Farárske žiadajú zásah prokuratúry. In: TV Noviny. 04.11.2024. https://tvnoviny.sk/domace/clanok/934047-nechodi-k-nim-postar-taxisluzby-ich-odmietaju-odviezt-domov-obyvatelia-trnavskej-casti-fararske-ziadaju-zasah-prokuratury?campaignsrc=tn_clipboard
Romanes Day in Slovenia
On today’s World Day of the Romani Language, the need to preserve this language, which is on the verge of disappearing in Slovenia due to many factors, is becoming increasingly evident. According to Roma assistant Bojana Rozman, Roma is heard less and less, as young people rarely use it, and the school system neglects the Romani language. Also, the language is changing rapidly, modern expressions are entering, as a result of which its authenticity can be nullified.
- FOTO: Svetovni dan romskega jezika: Kultura, ki potrebuje ohranitev. In: Pomurec. 05.11.2024. https://www.pomurec.com/vsebina/82612/FOTO__Svetovni_dan_romskega_jezika__Kultura__ki_potrebuje_ohranitev
- (Svetovni dan romskega jezika) Z njegovo promocijo nad stigma. In: Vestnik. 05.11.2024. https://vestnik.svet24.si/clanek/aktualno/svetovni-dan-romskega-jezika-z-njegovo-promocijo-nad-stigmo-1380278
Czechia: Counting Roma Children
Recent reports in the media about the collection of an estimate of the number of Roma children in primary schools have caused strong reactions and much confusion. This process, which has been running regularly since 2015, aims to monitor how the situation of Roma children in Czech education is developing and whether progress is being made in reducing segregation. The collection of data is a response to the decision of the European Court of Human Rights and the pressure of the European Commission, which drew the Czech Republic’s attention to the discriminatory practice against Roma children. This procedure is not a novelty.
Nevertheless, the criteria for saying who is Rom are dubious …
- Miroslav Klempár: Sběr dat o romských dětech na školách probíhá pravidelně už od roku 2015. Je to potřebný nástroj proti diskriminaci, nikoli tajná agenda Lucie Fukové! In: Romea. 03.11.2024. https://romea.cz/cz/komunity/miroslav-klempar-sber-dat-o-romskych-detech-na-skolach-probiha-pravidelne-uz-od-roku-2015-je-to-potrebny-nastroj-proti-diskriminaci-nikoli-tajna-agenda-lucie-fukove
Romanes Day and Croatia
An article about Roma in Croatia, stating there are 18’000 of them (based on census or how?) and about the celebration of the November 5th Romanes day. They say that the date was chosen because of the publication of the first Roma-Croatian and Croatian-Roma dictionary by Veljko Kajtazi in 2008 and because in 2012, the Croatian Parliament was the first to support the initiative for the international celebration of the World Roma Language Day. In 2015, UNESCO did the same.
- U Hrvatskoj živi gotovo 18 tisuća Roma, a 5. studenoga slave svoj dan – Svjetski dan romskog jezika. In: Aktualno. 03.11.2024. https://vzaktualno.hr/u-hrvatskoj-zivi-gotovo-18-tisuca-roma-a-5-studenoga-slave-svoj-dan-svjetski-dan-romskog-jezika/
A Roma Mission in a Settlement
The story of a Czech man, who founded the Christian Roma Mission in a Roma settlement in Slovakia. Success and difficulties.
- Všetci Rómovia z osady vďaka nemu chodia do práce, deti vedia čítať. Ítečkár Martin mení na Gemeri životy. In: Dobre Noviny. 02.11.2024. https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/219497/vsetci-romovia-z-osady-vdaka-nemu-chodia-do-prace-deti-vedia-citat-iteckar-martin-meni-na-gemeri-zivoty/2
Czechia: School Segregation
The Czech Republic had ten years to take action against the segregation of Roma children in schools. However, according to the European Commission, the situation has not improved, so it called on Czechia again in October to rectify it.
Although there are fifteen primary schools in Kladno in central Bohemia, students from poor, predominantly Roma families attend only two of them, with exceptions. The elementary school in Pařížská Street in the Kročehlava housing estate, which used to be special, and the one in Školská Street in Starý Kročehlavy. The results of the students there and the level of education they receive here are very different from the other “basics” in Kladno.
- „Vyvolalo by to odpor, teď máme klid.“ Česku se nedaří rušit romské školy, hrozí mu kvůli tomu soud. In: Hospodářské Noviny. 02.11.2024. https://domaci.hn.cz/c1-67451210-bdquo-vyvolalo-by-to-odpor-ted-mame-klid-ldquo-cesku-se-nedari-rusit-romske-skoly-hrozi-mu-kvuli-tomu-soud
France – via the Czech Press
4,000 people came to an illegal rave party near Rennes in northwestern France on Saturday. But their loud music in the abandoned hall by the highway bothered the Roma community, which had a camp right next door. The night skirmish between the two groups ended with 14 injured, local firefighters reported on Sunday.
- Další rvačka na západě Francie. Hluk z rave party rozčílil romskou komunitu. In: iDnes. 03.11.2024. https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/zahranicni/francie-party-kocovnici-rvacka-rennes-nelegalni.A241103_111902_zahranicni_svm
Russia: Pogroms
Last week, 40-year-old Elena Sarafanova was killed in the city of Korkino (Chelyabinsk region) — two Roma teenagers were accused of the crime. The next day, pogroms began in the city: angry residents went to the settlement, where the Roma live compactly, and set fire to several houses.
It seems that hatred ran deep, and that residents asked “where to deport them if they have no homeland” …
- «Куда их депортировать, если у них родины нет? Повестки всем!» In: Novaya Gazeta. https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/11/01/kuda-ikh-deportirovat-esli-u-nikh-rodiny-net-povestki-vsem
Ukraine, the UK and Roma
A reprint of a Guardian article in the Ukrainian press about Roma palaces in Hășdat.
Both articles pander to sterotypes…
- Дома-дворцы: почему богатые ромы строят только помпезное жилье. IN: 24 TV. 31.10.2024. https://24tv.ua/realestate24/ru/roskoshnye-doma-bogatyh-romov-pochemu-oni-strojat-tolko-dvorcy-nedvizhimost_n2675511
- Bring on the Vegas glitz! How Roma families are defying their persecutors with bling palaces. IN: THE GUARDIAN. 23.10.2024. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/oct/22/vegas-glitz-roma-families-persecutors-architectural-bling
Russia, the War, and Roma
Police and the Russian National Guard conducted a raid on the night of October 30 in areas of where Roma live in the Gatchina District of the Leningrad Region of Russia. More than 50 men were detained and registered for military service. A “total check” as part of criminal cases on illegal drug trafficking was carried out in these areas. In one of the houses in the village of Novosiverskaya, according to the Russian police, equipment for the production of synthetic drugs and several kilograms of an unknown substance were found in a family of “nomadic people”. In addition, 15 million rubles, two traumatic pistols and a hunting rifle were allegedly seized.
In brife, Russia is looking for cannon fodder and is highlightin Roma as criminals.
- Россия: силовики провели обыски у ромов под Петербургом, более 50 задержанных мужчин поставили на воинский учет. In: Novosti. 31.10.2024. https://ru.krymr.com/a/news-rossiya-romy-obysk-voinskiy-uchet/33181901.html
- Силовики провели обыски у ромов под Петербургом. Более 50 задержанных мужчин поставили на воинский учет. In: Moskow Times. 31.10.2024. https://www.currenttime.tv/a/rossiya-romy/33181831.html
Łodź: Lecture
The Marek Edelman Dialogue Center in Łódź invites you on Saturday, November 30 at 5:00 PM to the City Museum of Łódź for a lecture by Dr. Monika Weychert entitled “Even Death Fears Auschwitz. Commemorations and Holocaust Art Created by People with Roma Roots”. The event accompanies the first solo exhibition in Poland by the Roma artist and writer Ceija Stojka, “Ceija Stojka (1933-2013): “I Cannot Forget””.
- Nawet śmierć się boi Auschwitz. Prelekcja dr Moniki Weychert w Muzeum Miasta. In: UML Łodź. https://uml.lodz.pl/lato-w-lodzi/festiwale-i-koncerty/wydarzenie/nawet-smierc-sie-boi-auschwitz-prelekcja-dr-moniki-weychert-w-muzeum-miasta-lodzi-id99606/2024/11/30/
Poland: Roma Graves
After several articles in the Slovak press, it’s now the turn of Polish papers to speak about Roma graves.
- Nietypowe groby na polskich cmentarzach. Będą tu dziś tańczyć, śpiewać, jeść i pić. In: Fakt. 01.11.2024. https://www.fakt.pl/wydarzenia/teraz-juz-takich-nie-buduja-nietypowe-grobowce-do-kogo-naleza/d5664vq
Roma “History”
An article about Roma “history”, stressing their role as victims and pandering to all sterotypes.
- Ostatni tabor. Dramat tajemniczego narodu. In: Holistic. 29.10.2024. https://holistic.news/historia-romow-dramat-tajemniczego-narodu/
Czechia and Segregated Schools
The Ministry of Regional Development joined the Memorandum on Cooperation in Ending Ethnic Segregation in Education, which was signed in the spring of this year by representatives of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the National Pedagogical Institute and research organization PAQ Research. This initiative is essential for improving the conditions of Roma pupils in so-called segregated schools so that all children get equal access to education. The memorandum includes a commitment to support school founders and principals in their efforts to improve the quality of education for all children.
- Ukončování etnické segregace ve školství: Instituce spojují síly pro rovný přístup a kvalitní vzdělávání. In: Ceskenoviny. 30.10.2024. https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/ukoncovani-etnicke-segregace-ve-skolstvi-instituce-spojuji-sily-pro-rovny-pristup-a-kvalitni-vzdelavani/2589090
- Vyčleňování romských žáků přetrvává, pomoci má memorandum. In: Novinky. 30.10.2024. https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/veda-skoly-vyclenovani-romskych-zaku-pretrvava-pomoci-ma-memorandum-40495147
Czechia and Roma Schoolchildren
School principals in Czechia received detailed instructions from government representative Lucie Fuková on how to proceed when determining the Roma origin of children. Some have been reluctant to count the Roma until now. By getting their numbers, the state aims to prevent segregation. Many of them do not agree with this census because they find it uncomfortable to proceed in this way.
The criteria are scary: These include, for example, appearance. If the child is perceived as Roma, the directors can infer his Roma origin. The same applies if one of the parents or relatives in the direct line is Romani, the child has a typical Romani name or surname, or the pupil or family directly speaks the Romani language or an ethnolect (a language variant associated with a specific ethnic minority).
- Ředitelé škol dostali návod, jak spočítat romské děti. In: Seznam Zpravy. 31.10.2024. https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/kampus-stat-chce-znat-pocet-romu-ve-skolach-reditele-je-maji-urcovat-i-podle-pleti-263458
Slovakia, Graves, and Roma
Another article about cemeteries in Slovakia. According to the article, the cemetery ry in Žehra (Spišská Nová Ves district) is dotted with bizarre black tombstones. In Prešov, a larger-than-life-sized marble engraved mobster haunts the ciry, and another extravagance has been added to the grave of Řuma (†53) from a lavish funeral!
- Luxus až za hrob: Na prepychových rómskych pomníkoch mramorom nešetria! A podobizeň musí byť! In: Pluska. 29.10.2024. https://www1.pluska.sk/regiony/luxus-az-za-hrob-na-prepychovych-romskych-pomnikoch-mramorom-nesetria-a-podobizen-musi-byt
Bulgaria’s Vote
Delyan Peevski’s “DPS-New Beginning” gathered the most votes in the large Roma neighborhoods in Sofia – “Filipovtsi” and “Hristo Botev”. In Plovdiv and Varna, the populist GERB party apprently won in the Roma neighbourhoods in Plovdiv and Varna.
- Коалицията на Пеевски печели ромския глас в София, ГЕРБ – в Пловдив и Варна. In: Dnevnik. 28.10.2024. https://m.dnevnik.bg/izbori-2024/2024/10/28/4694715_koaliciiata_na_peevski_pecheli_romskiia_glas_v_sofiia/



















