Category Archives: Serbia

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Battle of Kumanovo

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Battle of Kumanovo

The anniversary of the 1912 Battle of Kumanovo was commemorated in Leskovac, but there is still no concrete plan to include Amet Ametović in the school curriculum despite calls for recognition of his contributions.

Amet Ametović, a participant in the 1912 battle and a recipient of the Karađorđe Star with Swords, is celebrated by local institutions and the Roma community, yet his legacy remains largely unrecognized in education.

There are ongoing discussions about erecting a statue of Amet Ametović, but no specific timeline or funding has been established for this initiative.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Minorities and Serbian Elections

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Minorities and Serbian Elections

Two articles on the role of minorities in the upcoming Serbian elections. Minority parties will play a crucial role in the elections. Half of the 18 electoral lists are from national minority parties, particularly focusing on the Hungarian and Roma communities.

The Hungarian minority party SVM is the largest and has collaborated with the ruling SNS party, while the Roma community is supporting a student list due to dissatisfaction with their representation.

The article also touches on the challenges faced by other minority groups, including Bosniaks and Albanians, in achieving political representation and their demands for better governance and rights.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections and Roma

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Serbian Elections and Roma

The Democratic Party of Roma (DRP) is advocating for a reduction of the electoral threshold for the Roma community from 0.70% to 0.35%, similar to provisions for the Croatian community.

They highlight the long-standing political exclusion of Roma and question why their representation is overlooked while other minority groups receive guaranteed mandates.

While many Roma adovcate voting for the Student’s list, this is far from certain. A group of activists from the opposition ‘Students’ List’ attempted to gain support from the Roma in Serbia but faced strong resistance from local residents. Roma representatives expressed their loyalty to the current government and President Aleksandar Vučić, citing improvements in their living standards as a result of his policies.

Usnija Buligović from the Roma Academic Circle discusses the long-standing issue of vote buying within the Roma community, emphasizing that it affects other marginalized groups as well.

She highlights the need for awareness and action against those who exploit vulnerable populations for votes, urging Roma to recognize the value of their votes and to report any instances of coercion or bribery. Buligović calls for increased political engagement from the Roma community, stressing the importance of holding political representatives accountable and advocating for their rights beyond election periods.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Commemoration

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Commemoration

The anniversary of the murder of 14-year-old Roma boy Dušan Jovanović, killed 29 years ago in Belgrade, was marked by a march highlighting racism and discrimination against Roma people.

Duška Jovanović, Dušan’s sister, emphasized the impact of racism, stating it has killed her brother and affected her entire family, and called for continued remembrance and activism against hate.

The gathering served as a memorial and a call to action to combat racism and promote awareness of the ongoing struggles faced by the Roma community.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Votes

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Serbia and Votes

Robert Kasumović, a Romani activist, claims that the ruling party in Niš uses threats and coercion to control the Romani community for personal gain, with severe consequences for the community’s welfare.

Srđan Šajn, president of the Roma Party, has called for an investigation into alleged coercion of socially vulnerable groups, including Roma, to attend a Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) rally in Novi Sad. He claims that a meeting with Roma leaders discussed financial incentives for attending the rally, potentially linked to voting for SNS in upcoming elections.

Despite the existence of seven Romani parties, their influence is minimal, and there is a lack of political interest in Romani issues, leading to a stagnation in community integration and worsening conditions over the past fifteen years.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Vote Buying?

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Vote Buying?

The article relates several documented cases where Roma votes were allegedly bought, where Roma from informal settlements were bused to polling stations or to manifestations, ands this as since 2014. It alleges that Vučić’s SNS Party is behind these schemes. The piece critiques the lack of genuine political representation for the Roma and the oppressive control exerted by the government over their community, leading to worsening conditions over the years.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

The Roma Party issued a call today to all political parties focused on representing the interests of the Roma national minority, urging them to declare whether they side with the authorities or the “Student List.” The party maintains that any political group unwilling to take a stand in this referendum-like atmosphere is, in effect, helping the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) stay in power.

Kosovo News Eastern Europe Serbia

Ethnic Cleansing

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Ethnic Cleansing

Azir Jašari, a former journalist, documents the suffering of displaced Roma after being expelled from Kosovo and Metohija, creating a documentary and a book on their history. Many Roma and Ashkali have found refuge in Subotica, where they have established a community of around 3,500 individuals.

The article highlights the success stories of young Roma who have integrated into Subotica, showcasing their achievements and pride in overcoming challenges.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Award

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Award

Vladimir Amzić received the October Award from the City of Leskovac for his long-term efforts in promoting education and employment for Roma and preserving their culture.

His contributions include employing eight Roma individuals and supporting 30 young Roma with work equipment and tools.

Amzić has been active in the cultural and social life of Leskovac for over 20 years, collaborating with various institutions to research and preserve Roma history.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma Ball and Politics

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Roma Ball and Politics

Novi Sad Mayor Žarko Mićin stated this evening at the tenth anniversary Roma Ball in Veternik that the City would continue to support the Roma community, emphasizing that unity and mutual respect are key to the further development of Novi Sad.

The ceremony, held at the “Kristal” hall, also marked the 10th anniversary of the Roma association “Bela Romkinja,” the organizer of this traditional ball.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

Salih Saitović, president of the Democratic Union of Roma (DUR), urged national media to include issues important to the Roma community in election debates and demand concrete answers from politicians. DUR plans to request discussions on employment, education, housing, social protection, and equality for Roma.

Saitović emphasized the importance of genuine Roma participation in decision-making processes, beyond mere presence during election campaigns.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

SNS in Kragujevac

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SNS in Kragujevac

The local organization SRCE Kragujevac reported that a leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (the current ruling party in Serbia) is attempting to remove a cross in the Palilula neighborhood, a traditional gathering place for Roma and other citizens.

The official claims the gatherings disturb his family’s peace and is using political influence to push for the cross’s removal.

SRCE argues that the cross holds significant spiritual and cultural importance for the community and warns that its removal would demonstrate intolerance towards the Roma community’s rights and traditions.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

ECHR on Serbia

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ECHR on Serbia

The European Court of Human Rights today delivered its judgment in Pavlović v. Serbia, ruling unanimously that Serbia violated Article 8 (right to respect for private life) of the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to protect a Romani child’s physical and psychological integrity who was the victim of a violent assault.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Housing in Serbia

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Housing in Serbia

A significant number of Roma in Serbia live in informal and substandard settlements, lacking access to basic utilities and safe living conditions, prompting YUROM Center to call for prioritizing housing solutions for Roma by state and local institutions.

On International Housing Day, YUROM Center emphasizes that adequate housing remains unattainable for many Roma families and is a matter of human rights and Serbia’s European integration.

The organization urges authorities to prioritize housing issues for Roma through investments in infrastructure, social housing, and measures to prevent further segregation, asserting that adequate housing is essential for dignity and equal participation in society.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections and Roma

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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.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

City of Pain

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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 Serbia

Roma in Serbia

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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.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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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.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Human Rights

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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 Serbia

National Council of Minorities

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National Council of Minorities

The Republic Electoral Commission announced the electoral list “United Roma for a United Serbia” led by Dejan Lajković for the upcoming elections for the National Council of the Roma National Minority, scheduled for November 8.

Marina Đukanović, a member of the RIK, stated that the electoral list was received yesterday and that 35 members will be elected to the national council.

According to the temporary resolution from the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, at least 610 verified statements are needed, which is one percent of the 61,030 registered voters on the special electoral roll.

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