Category Archives: Slovakia

During discussions about the Roma inclusion in society in Prešov, the Slovak President Andrej Kiska stated that the Roma inclusion is a shame for Slovakia and that this is one of the country greatest challenge and most pressing problem.
Let’s hope something is done.

– Kiska označil osud Rómov za jednu z kapitol hanby Slovenska. In: SME. 25.01.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20746476/andrej-kiska-romovia-romska-problematika-hanba-slovenska.html
– Kiska má recept pre lepší život Rómov: Treba im dať vzdelanie, prácu a bývanie. In: Aktualne. 25.01.2018. https://aktualne.centrum.sk/slovensko/politika/kiska-ma-recept-lepsi-zivot-romov-treba-im-dat-vzdelanie-pracu-byvanie.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20746476/andrej-kiska-romovia-romska-problematika-hanba-slovenska.html “]

The story of the police intervention in a Roma settlement in Moldavia nad Bodvou which occurred in June 2013 has taken a new twist. Originally, several police officers were indicted based on testimonies from the residents. The policemen were recently cleared of all charges and now four Roma who testified against them are facing criminal charges.
The article tells the whole story – and it is bad.

– Razie v osadách: Najprv preverovali policajtov, teraz obvinili Moldavčanov. In: Korzar. 16.01.2018. https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20738397/razie-v-osadach-najprv-preverovali-policajtov-teraz-obvinili-moldavcanov.html [link-preview url=”https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20738397/razie-v-osadach-najprv-preverovali-policajtov-teraz-obvinili-moldavcanov.html”]

The Slovak liberal and libertarian Freedom and Solidarity party (known by its Slovak abbreviation as SaS), made new proposals regarding Roma policies. These were sharply criticised by Abel Ravasz, the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities as not reflecting the current reality and not taking into account that many of these proposals were already put in place.

– Rómska reforma SaS je neaktuálna, myslí si splnomocnenec Ravasz. In: SME Domov. 10.01.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20733695/romska-reforma-sas-je-neaktualna-mysli-si-splnomocnenec-ravasz.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20733695/romska-reforma-sas-je-neaktualna-mysli-si-splnomocnenec-ravasz.html”]

Difficult to say what and who, but a fight between a German, some Slovaks and Roma about a flat screen TV – together with accusations of theft – required a police intervention.
Who did what is truly unclear, but in the mind of the readers, there will be little doubts …

– Brandhaus in Plauen. Slwaken rufen Polizei zur Hilfe. In: Vogtlang Anzeiger. 08.01.2018. http://vogtland-anzeiger.de/Vogtland_Anzeiger/cms-nachrichten/plauen/brandhaus-in-plauen-slowaken-rufen-polizei.html [link-preview url=”http://vogtland-anzeiger.de/Vogtland_Anzeiger/cms-nachrichten/plauen/brandhaus-in-plauen-slowaken-rufen-polizei.html”]

An analysis of the rise of the Neo Nazi movement in Slovakia. Long ignored, even when its propaganda led to murder of Roma as in Žilina in 2000, they now sit in the Slovak Parliament.
Bad.

– Rok 2013: Ľudia dali prednosť fašizmu pred Smerom. In: SME. 08.01.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20722118/rok-2013-ludia-dali-prednost-fasizmu-pred-smerom.html#ixzz53fKtqp9X [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20722118/rok-2013-ludia-dali-prednost-fasizmu-pred-smerom.html#ixzz53fKtqp9X”]

Milan Mazurek of Kotleba LSNS party is facing not only a high fine, but also a premature departure from the national parliament. And all because of his derogatory statements on Roma, immigrants, or Muslims that he made on Radio Frontinus on October last year.
Slow progress but progress nevertheless.

– Poslancovi ĽSNS Mazurekovi hrozí, že v parlamente skončí. In: Atkuality. 22.12.2017. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/549933/poslancovi-lsns-mazurekovi-hrozi-ze-v-parlamente-skonci/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/549933/poslancovi-lsns-mazurekovi-hrozi-ze-v-parlamente-skonci/”]

62% of the Slovaks would not want Roma neighbours… They are worse off than Moslems (54%), migrants (43%) and homosexuals (37%).
No surprise, unfortunately.

– Slováci to dali najavo jasne: Za susedov najčastejšie nechceme Rómov, moslimov či homosexuálov. In: Novy Čas. 18.12.2017. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/634463/slovaci-to-dali-najavo-jasne-za-susedov-najcastejsie-nechceme-romov-moslimov-ci-homosexualov/ [link-preview url=”https://www.cas.sk/clanok/634463/slovaci-to-dali-najavo-jasne-za-susedov-najcastejsie-nechceme-romov-moslimov-ci-homosexualov/”]

The latest numbers of people receiving social benefits in Slovakia were published. Overall 3.17% of the population is dependent on benefits, an overall decrease since last statistic.
Well, reading these numbers somewhat differently, not all Roma in Slovakia are dependent of social benefits.
In fact, in an earlier statistic published by the Slovak government, the majority of social benefits goes to non-Roma…

– Potešujúce štatistiky. Počet poberateľov sociálnych dávok klesá. In: Aktualne. 20.12.2017. https://aktualne.centrum.sk/ekonomika/slovenska-ekonomika/potesujuce-statistiky-pocet-poberatelov-socialnych-davok-klesa.html [link-preview url=”https://aktualne.centrum.sk/ekonomika/slovenska-ekonomika/potesujuce-statistiky-pocet-poberatelov-socialnych-davok-klesa.html”]

Really? In Slovakia, a house in which Roma live has been bought by the municipality and will be demolished as it is a “disgrace” in the village. What about its inhabitants… Well best is that they move on.
No comments.

– Starosta Krásnej Rómov aj tak presťahuje. Radšej už neprezradí kam. In SME. 15.12.2017. https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20719249/starosta-romov-aj-tak-prestahuje-radsej-uz-vopred-neprezradi-kam.html [link-preview url=”https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20719249/starosta-romov-aj-tak-prestahuje-radsej-uz-vopred-neprezradi-kam.html”]

What have a Lynx and Roma in common: Well, in Slovakia, one lynx is roaming in a Roma neighbourhood and is getting acclimated to humans.
It may all end in a Zoo…

– Rys, ktorý desí Rómov, skončí v zoo alebo vo Francúzsku. Konať musia rýchlo. In: TV Noviny. 14.12.2017. http://www.tvnoviny.sk/domace/1898850_rys-ktory-desi-romov-skonci-v-zoo-alebo-vo-francuzsku-konat-musia-rychlo [link-preview url=”http://www.tvnoviny.sk/domace/1898850_rys-ktory-desi-romov-skonci-v-zoo-alebo-vo-francuzsku-konat-musia-rychlo”]

An article about some of the factories in Slovakia, who, faced with labour shortages decided to try to employ some of the estimated 100’000 Roma who have no job in that country.
And guess what, it works … Not always simple in the beginning, but it works!

– Firmy ukazujú, že zamestnávanie Rómov má riešenie. In: Pravda. 09.12.2017. https://profesia.pravda.sk/zamestnanie/clanok/450180-firmy-ukazuju-ze-zamestnatelnost-romov-je-riesitelna/ [link-preview url=”https://profesia.pravda.sk/zamestnanie/clanok/450180-firmy-ukazuju-ze-zamestnatelnost-romov-je-riesitelna/”]