Category Archives: Serbia

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Roma Voters

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Serbia and Roma Voters

Serbian opposition figure Božo Drašković made derogatory comments about Roma in Serbia, accusing them of being corrupt and selling their dignity for money.

The article criticizes the racist attitudes of the current protesters who claim to uphold European values while showing contempt for minority communities. Here they take a pro-government attitude, and amalgamate the protesters with political opposition figures.

The article highlights the failure of media hosts to condemn Drašković’s remarks, indicating, according to the article,  a broader issue of racism and discrimination against the Roma community. Well, except that even Roma say that their votes have been bought, and this by the government …

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Olivera Katalina

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Olivera Katalina

Olivera Katarina, a versatile performer known for her work in film and music, passed away on July 21, 2026, at the age of 86, after a career spanning over 60 years.

Born in Belgrade, she gained fame for her role in the film ‘I Even Met Happy Gypsies’ where she played the role of a Romani singer and had a successful singing career across multiple languages and genres. She also sang in Romanes.

Despite personal hardships, including the loss of her second husband, Katarina continued to work in the arts until her later years, leaving a lasting legacy in Yugoslav cinema.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Social Cards

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Serbian Social Cards

The UN has criticized Serbia’s social card system for leaving over 60,000 citizens, particularly from the Roma community, without financial assistance due to issues with data processing and automated decision-making.

Experts highlight that many Roma earn informal or irregular incomes, which are misinterpreted as grounds for denying social aid, exacerbating their poverty. The UN recommends that Serbia improve transparency, establish effective appeal mechanisms, and ensure that digital systems do not lead to discrimination against vulnerable populations.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

The Roma Party announced its decision to participate in upcoming elections and is open to discussions with opposition parties for potential collaboration if there is mutual political will.

Party President Srđan Šajn emphasized their goal is not to divide the opposition but to create a broad front to defeat the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and promote a free-thinking Serbia.

Šajn criticized the SNS for not disclosing their presidential candidate and future government composition, suggesting that their allies are expected to follow orders without independent thought.

Kosovo News Eastern Europe Serbia

Ethnic Cleansing

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Ethnic Cleansing

Kosovo’s Interior Minister declared Serbian Minister Snezana Paunovic persona non grata due to her controversial remarks advocating ethnic cleansing during the Kosovo War.

The EU criticized Paunovic’s statements, emphasizing that such rhetoric contradicts European values and the reconciliation process necessary for EU accession.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic distanced himself from Paunovic’s comments, while opposition parties called for her resignation, highlighting the ongoing tensions regarding ethnic relations in the region.

All this in 20926 …

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Romane Media

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Romane Media

Minority media in Serbia, particularly Roma media, face existential threats due to lack of systemic support and sustainable funding, relying heavily on project-based financing.

The editor of ROMINFO media warns that the current funding system is unsustainable, jeopardizing the survival of media that serve national minorities and their cultural identity.

Experts emphasize that the disappearance of minority media would lead to a loss of reliable information for citizens in their native languages and diminish media pluralism, impacting democratic development.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Roma

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Serbia and Roma

The Commissioner for Equality, Milan Antonijević, suspended the procedure against Dragan J. Vučićević for discrimination against the Roma minority, following a complaint from Initiative A11 regarding Vučićević’s statements about Roma stealing copper wires.

Roma leaders express disappointment over the decision, arguing that a mere warning is insufficient and sends a dangerous message that discrimination and hate speech are tolerated.

Critics highlight the need for stronger institutional responses to racism and discrimination, emphasizing the importance of protecting the rights of all citizens, including the Roma community.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma Employment

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Roma Employment

Despite various programs aimed at improving the situation of the Roma community in Serbia, they remain one of the hardest groups to employ due to deep structural issues.

Government strategies often fail to translate into real opportunities, creating a facade of progress that does not reflect the daily lives of individuals.

The article argues that economic measures alone cannot address social exclusion without tackling the ingrained prejudices that define who is considered a ‘desirable’ worker.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Politics and Roma

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Politics and Roma

Salih Saitović, president of the Democratic Union of Roma, emphasized the need for a change in how political parties view the Roma community.

He stated that Roma should not be seen merely as a voting bloc that politicians only engage with during election periods.

The call for recognition and respect for the Roma community’s contributions and needs was highlighted.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Arakhel …

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Arakhel …

The city of Pirot has been selected as the pilot city for the regional project “Arakhel,” aimed at improving protection and support for Romani women victims of gender-based and domestic violence.

The project, led by the Bibija Romani Women’s Center in partnership with civil society organizations from Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, is supported by the European Union.

Key goals include establishing a specialized center for comprehensive support for Romani women facing violence and enhancing trust in institutions to encourage reporting of violence and seeking help.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Racism in Serbia

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Racism in Serbia

A video from Šabac shows a woman physically assaulting a Roma boy while using racist insults, sparking outrage on social media in Serbia.

The attacker, K. S., admitted to the incident but downplayed it, claiming she only slapped the boy twice after he was allegedly rude.

The victim’s mother reported the incident to authorities, highlighting previous aggression from the same woman, and called for institutional action to prevent such incidents in the future.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Vojvodina Music

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Vojvodina Music

The event “Days of Roma Music” was organized by the Roma Cultural Center in Pančevo to promote and preserve the rich musical heritage of the Roma minority.

The event featured performances by talented children from Vojvodina, highlighting the importance of passing on traditional Roma music to younger generations.

Officials emphasized the significance of such events in fostering cultural diversity and mutual respect, with hopes that it will become a key cultural event in Vojvodina.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Prejudice in Serbia

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Prejudice in Serbia

Zlata Petrović, a Serbian singer, openly discussed her Romani heritage and how she concealed it from her son until he was eight years old due to societal prejudices.

She emphasized the importance of being honest with friends and taught her son that he should not associate with those who judge him for his background.

Zlata revealed personal details about her family, including her mixed heritage and her late discovery of her father’s identity, while also planning for her family’s future by purchasing a new property.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Action Plan Serbia

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Action Plan Serbia

The Serbian government has established a Coordination Body to monitor the implementation of the Action Plan for minority rights for 2026-2029, aiming for better coordination among institutions.

Despite the positive signal of this initiative, past experiences suggest that creating new bodies does not guarantee significant improvements for minority communities.

The success of the Coordination Body will depend on its ability to translate decisions into concrete actions that improve education, employment, and reduce discrimination for minorities, particularly the Roma community.

We do have some doubts …

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Politics and Roma

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Politics and Roma

Srđan Šajn, president of the Roma Party, accused the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of exploiting Roma individuals living on social assistance by paying them to attend a rally on June 27.

He claimed that authorities distributed between 3,000 and 5,000 dinars to Roma from socially vulnerable neighborhoods to ensure their attendance, with evidence of this shared on social media.

Šajn criticized the government for relying on coerced individuals and marginalized groups to demonstrate power, while also noting that President Vučić failed to address other minority groups lacking political strength.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Raspberries

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Raspberries

The raspberry harvest season has led many Roma families from southern Serbia to travel to the western part of the country, known for raspberry production, with seasonal workers often traveling by bus.

Daily wages for raspberry pickers start at 5,000 dinars, with some workers earning more based on their performance, and employers typically provide accommodation and meals.

Seasonal work is crucial for many Roma families, who often move from one harvest to another throughout the summer, with the income supporting household expenses and family needs.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Politics

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Serbian Politics

Srđan Šajn, president of the Roma Party, criticized the government’s approach towards Roma and vulnerable groups, particularly regarding financial incentives for attending a political rally. He highlighted concerns about efforts to suppress opposition within the Roma community, suggesting that local criminals are involved in manipulating attendance for political appearances.

The statement reflects a broader issue of how marginalized groups are treated in political contexts, emphasizing the need for genuine representation rather than tokenism.

News Eastern Europe Serbia Slovenia

Slovenia: International Conference

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Slovenia: International Conference

An international conference in Murska Sobota, Slovenia, gathered representatives from Roma communities and organizations across Europe to discuss the progress and challenges faced by Roma people over the past two decades.

Dalibor Nakić, president of the National Council of the Roma National Minority, highlighted advancements in education and political participation for Roma in Serbia, attributing these to collaboration with state institutions and civil society.

The conference showcased successful integration examples, particularly the Pušča settlement, recognized for its developed infrastructure and community organization, serving as a model for local development for Roma in Slovenia.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

Upcoming elections in Serbia raise concerns about the political participation of national minorities, particularly the Roma community, which lacks political influence despite its size and significance. Roma in Serbia face numerous challenges, including unemployment, poverty, and inadequate representation in decision-making processes.

Despite these issues being highlighted during election campaigns, post-election results often fail to meet citizens’ expectations, prompting discussions about the need for greater political engagement from the Roma community.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Social Cards

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Serbian Social Cards

The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights highlighted concerns over Serbia’s social protection system and the implementation of the Social Card Law, which has led to over 60,000 citizens losing social assistance since its introduction in 2022.

The report emphasizes the negative impact on vulnerable groups, particularly the Roma community, whose informal incomes are misclassified, resulting in loss of benefits despite insufficient earnings for basic living.

Recommendations include improving worker protection mechanisms, enhancing transparency in digital systems, and ensuring that public services do not discriminate against the most vulnerable citizens.

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