Category Archives: Slovakia

This highlights the tensions that exist in Slovakia regarding Roma, the general population, and the police. In Pezinok, a Slovak town near Bratislava, Roma celebrating a birthday lit a fire in the street. They were asked by the police to stop it and this generate in an altercation and a fight.
Bad.

– Skupina Rómov založila oheň. Ich napomenutie skončilo útokom na policajtov. In: Noviny. 25.10.2018. https://www.noviny.sk/krimi/382067-skupina-romov-zalozila-ohen-ich-napomenutie-skoncilo-utokom-na-policajtov [link-preview url=”https://www.noviny.sk/krimi/382067-skupina-romov-zalozila-ohen-ich-napomenutie-skoncilo-utokom-na-policajtov”]

A nice analysis of the origins of the views of the general population on Roma, and on how these “sayings” turn into generalisations and prejudices.
Worth a read.

– Predsudky, mýty a generačná chudoba. In: SME. 23.10.2018. https://miroslavpollak.blog.sme.sk/c/494708/predsudky-myty-a-generacna-chudoba.html [link-preview url=”https://miroslavpollak.blog.sme.sk/c/494708/predsudky-myty-a-generacna-chudoba.html”]

Ábel Ravasz, the Plenipotentiary of the Government for Roma Communities said that his office had funded some housing improvements in two localities. It is a drop in the ocean and the question of housing is one that should also be tackled in Slovakia.

– Úrad splnomocnenca podporil bývanie v Dobšinej a Lukove. In: SME. 21.10.2018. https://ekonomika.sme.sk/c/20942579/urad-splnomocnenca-pre-romov-podporil-byvanie-v-dobsinej-a-lukove.html [link-preview url=”https://ekonomika.sme.sk/c/20942579/urad-splnomocnenca-pre-romov-podporil-byvanie-v-dobsinej-a-lukove.html”]

An article on the success story of the village of Spišský Hrhov and on the fact that the methods used there for the integration of the Roma minority should b ereflected in legislation.

– Pracuje len jedna pätina Rómov. In: Finweb. 17.10.2018. https://finweb.hnonline.sk/ekonomika/1826286-pracuje-len-jedna-patina-romov [link-preview url=”https://finweb.hnonline.sk/ekonomika/1826286-pracuje-len-jedna-patina-romov”]

Vladislav Ledecký, the Mayor of Spišský Hrhov, a village in Eastern Slovakia; Peter Pellegrini, the Slovak Prime Minister; and Thorbjorn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe visited the village Spišské Hrhove, a village known for its successful Roma integration project.
Let’s hope that this PR event brings more than just a photo opportunity.

– Generálny tajomník Rady Európy navštívil Rómov v Spišskom Hrhove. In: Korzar. 16.10.2018. https://spis.korzar.sme.sk/c/20939068/generalny-tajomnik-rady-europy-navstivil-romov-v-spisskom-hrhove.html [link-preview url=”https://spis.korzar.sme.sk/c/20939068/generalny-tajomnik-rady-europy-navstivil-romov-v-spisskom-hrhove.html”]

The Municipal Office in Nitra and its the Social Affairs Department, organized a seminar on Vlax (Olaš) Roma in Nitra and on the possibility of working with it. The main lecturer was Mgr. Ivana Šustrová from the Regional Office of the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities.

– V meste pod Zoborom sa konal seminár na tému olašskí Rómovia v Nitre. In: Hlavne Spravy. 12.10.2018. https://www.hlavnespravy.sk/meste-zoborom-sa-konal-seminar-temu-olasski-romovia-nitre/1548210 [link-preview url=”https://www.hlavnespravy.sk/meste-zoborom-sa-konal-seminar-temu-olasski-romovia-nitre/1548210″]

A local initiative in a village to better the local library and make it accessible to the local Roma population.

– Aj Rómovia sú naši. In: SME. 12.10.2018. https://komentare.sme.sk/c/20936291/aj-romovia-su-nasi.html [link-preview url=”https://komentare.sme.sk/c/20936291/aj-romovia-su-nasi.html”]

A project in Zvolen, Slovakia, funded by the EU integrated Roma to neighbourhood patrols to improve relations and to help prevent petty crimes.

– Muži v čiernom prehovorili, ako sa im v uliciach darí.In: SME. 15.10.2018. https://myzvolen.sme.sk/c/20938110/muzi-v-ciernom-prehovorili-o-tom-ako-sa-im-v-uliciach-dari.html [link-preview url=”https://myzvolen.sme.sk/c/20938110/muzi-v-ciernom-prehovorili-o-tom-ako-sa-im-v-uliciach-dari.html”]

Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini said last week after the government’s outgoing meeting that the government wants to support Roma pastoralisation: Basically, the prime minister told the churches that if they are increasing the number of priests in Roma settlements, the government will increase its support.
Really???? What do churches have to do with Roma integration ????

– Keby som nevidel, ako viera mení životy Rómov, sám pochybujem. In: Dennik. 11.10.2018. https://www.postoj.sk/37119/keby-som-nevidel-ako-viera-meni-zivoty-romov-sam-pochybujem [link-preview url=”https://www.postoj.sk/37119/keby-som-nevidel-ako-viera-meni-zivoty-romov-sam-pochybujem”]

The Plenipotentiary of the Government for Roma Communities Ábel Ravasz has announced a study of the real living condition of the Roma settlements in Slovakia. More precise statistics have been requested by the European Commission.

– Budú sa zaujímať o životné podmienky Rómov. In: SME. 10.10.2018. https://mynitra.sme.sk/c/20932183/budu-sa-zaujimat-o-zivotne-podmienky-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://mynitra.sme.sk/c/20932183/budu-sa-zaujimat-o-zivotne-podmienky-romov.html”]

Marián Mišún, a member of the extreme right party of Kotleba is an admirer of National Socialism and has published articles such as one entitled “Final solution to the Gypsy problem” …
This in Europe in 2018 …

– Kotlebov nádejný primátor obdivuje národný socializmus a v roku 2014 kandidoval spolu so zločincom. In: Dennik. 08.10.2018. https://dennikn.sk/blog/1225898/kotlebov-nadejny-primator-obdivuje-narodny-socializmus-a-v-roku-2014-kandidoval-spolu-so-zlocincom/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/blog/1225898/kotlebov-nadejny-primator-obdivuje-narodny-socializmus-a-v-roku-2014-kandidoval-spolu-so-zlocincom/”]

Boris Kollar, the president of “Sme Rodina” [We are a family] stated that Slovakia cannot accept or keep Syrian refugees because Slovakia has not been able to integrate Roma in 600 years …
We should maybe suggest he takes some history lessons …

– Nedokázali sme integrovať Rómov a chceme prijímať sýrske siroty, rozohnil sa Boris Kollár. In: Web Noviny. 03.10.2018. https://www.webnoviny.sk/nedokazali-sme-integrovat-romov-a-chceme-prijimat-syrske-siroty-rozohnil-sa-boris-kollar/ [link-preview url=”https://www.webnoviny.sk/nedokazali-sme-integrovat-romov-a-chceme-prijimat-syrske-siroty-rozohnil-sa-boris-kollar/”]

A total of 6 Roma who have claimed being victims of police violence in the Košice region have been indicted themselves and five of them have been already condemned.
Shame.

– Pojednávanie v kauze zásahu polície v rómskej osade súd odročil. In: Teraz. 24.09.2018. https://www.teraz.sk/regiony/sudy-os-kosice-i-pojednavanie-v-kauze/350513-clanok.html [link-preview url=”https://www.teraz.sk/regiony/sudy-os-kosice-i-pojednavanie-v-kauze/350513-clanok.html”]

Yet another article in the Slovakian press about the need to employ local Roma rather than rely on immigrants from other countries. This article describes some of the reasons behind the large unemployment of Roma in Slovakia.

– Príležitosť pre ľudí z osád. In: Nazory Pravda. 28.09.2018. https://nazory.pravda.sk/analyzy-a-postrehy/clanok/485894-prilezitost-pre-ludi-z-osad/ [link-preview url=”https://nazory.pravda.sk/analyzy-a-postrehy/clanok/485894-prilezitost-pre-ludi-z-osad/”]

Two men were arrested by the Slovak police of an aggression against Roma. After a discussion, the men had aggressed the Roma with a handgun and a large knife.
Good that this is being taken seriously.

– Pracujúcich Rómov napadli dvaja ozbrojenci. Putujú za mreže. In: TA3. 19.09.2018. https://www.ta3.com/clanok/1136553/pracujucich-romov-napadli-dvaja-ozbrojenci-putuju-za-mreze.html
– Polícia zadržala dvoch mužov, ktorí so zbraňou bezdôvodne napadli Rómov. In: Spravy Pravda. 19.09.2018. https://spravy.pravda.sk/regiony/clanok/484722-policia-zadrzala-dvoch-muzov-ktori-so-zbranou-bezdovodne-napadli-romov/
– Dvaja Trnavčania napadli skupinku pracujúcich Rómov. In: My Trnava. 19.09.2018. https://mytrnava.sme.sk/c/20917408/dvaja-trnavcania-napadli-skupinku-pracujucich-romov.html
– Extrémistický čin v Trnave: Dvojica mužov bezdôvodne napadla Rómov so zbraňou a nožom. In: Topky. 19.09.2018. https://www.topky.sk/cl/100370/1739027/Extremisticky-cin-v-Trnave–Dvojica-muzov-bezdovodne-napadla-Romov-so-zbranou-a-nozom
– Muži napadli skupinu Rómov počas výkopových prác, najskôr im vynadali a potom prišli so zbraňami. In: Spravy Pozri. 19.09.2018. https://spravy.pozri.sk/clanok/muzi-napadli-skupinu-romov-pocas-vykopovych-prac-najskor-im-vynadali-a-potom-prisli-so-zbranami/1345518 [link-preview url=”https://www.ta3.com/clanok/1136553/pracujucich-romov-napadli-dvaja-ozbrojenci-putuju-za-mreze.html “]