Category Archives: Slovakia

A animal protection group in Slovakia is claiming that dogs are systematically abused in Rroma settlements. This assertion was taken up by several newspapers, fuelling yet another controversy on Rroma in that country.
Well, life is tough in the settlements, really so, and this reflects on all its inhabitants – including the ones on 4 legs.

– Are dogs being abused in Romani settlements in Slovakia? Romea.cz asks the authorities and experts. In: Romea.cz. 09.03.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/are-dogs-being-abused-in-romani-settlements-in-slovakia-romea-cz-asks-the-authorities-and-experts [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/are-dogs-being-abused-in-romani-settlements-in-slovakia-romea-cz-asks-the-authorities-and-experts”]

Yet another Daily Mail article, this time about the christening of a Rroma boy in Slovakia with lots of money splashed around.
We do not need this – really.

– It’s a Big Fat Gypsy… christening! Baby covered in £550 worth of banknotes and handed a dummy on a gold chain in Roma ceremony costing £25,000. In: Daily Mail. 04.03.2017. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4281492/Gypsy-baby-covered-550-worth-banknotes.html [link-preview url=”http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4281492/Gypsy-baby-covered-550-worth-banknotes.html”]

In Poprad, a petition against a Rroma Community Centre was signed by 1’300 people… And it is supported by the city hall. A lawyer of the Rroma says that such petitions should not encourage the violation of the constitution. He is right.

– V Poprade sú výhrady proti komunitnému centru pre Rómov. In: 24 Hodin. 27.02.2017. http://www.24hod.sk/v-poprade-su-vyhrady-proti-komunitnemu-centru-pre-romov-cl496463.html [link-preview url=”http://www.24hod.sk/v-poprade-su-vyhrady-proti-komunitnemu-centru-pre-romov-cl496463.html”]

A view from Slovakia on the integration of Rroma from the Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities. According to him, integration is a local matter, and needs to be tackled at the lowest level.
While he definitively is right that integration happens at the lowest level, one needs a push from above to get things going…

– Integrácia Rómov je miestna záležitosť. In: Dennik. 17.02.2017. https://dennikn.sk/685353/integracia-romov-je-miestna-zalezitost/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/685353/integracia-romov-je-miestna-zalezitost/”]

Slovak officials have stopped Marian Markovič, a Rroma businessman from distributing food to homeless and disadvantaged people in Komarno. Official reason are food regulations.
One wonders …

– Slovakia: Romani businessman stopped from distributing food to the homeless by authorities. In: Romea.cz. 15.02.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovakia-romani-businessman-stopped-from-distributing-food-to-the-homeless-by-authorities [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovakia-romani-businessman-stopped-from-distributing-food-to-the-homeless-by-authorities”]

An excellent article about facts and fiction or alternative news in social media, but also in the politics in Slovakia. Rroma are increasingly the victims of such false news, and in Slovakia, even the prime minister Fico, is spreading those lies.

– Hoaxes ascend to mainstream politics. In: The Slovak Spectator. 16.02.2017. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20457561/hoaxes-ascend-to-mainstream-politics.html [link-preview url=”https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20457561/hoaxes-ascend-to-mainstream-politics.html”]

A Slovak photograph ventured in the Osadas – The Rroma settlement that dot the Slovak landscape. These have a dreadful reputation. In the interview, the photographer speaks positively about the experience.
Look at the pictures …

– Fotí v rómskych osadách: Videli vo mne vzor. In: HN Online. 10.02.2017. http://hnonline.sk/slovensko/908567-foti-v-romskych-osadach-videli-vo-mne-vzor [link-preview url=”http://hnonline.sk/slovensko/908567-foti-v-romskych-osadach-videli-vo-mne-vzor”]

The interview of a Rroma in Romea – and his statements on the Slovak prime minister Fico.

– Stano Daniel: Fico’s the “gypsy”, I am a Rom. In: Romea. 03.02.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/stano-daniel-fico-s-the-gypsy-i-am-a-rom [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/stano-daniel-fico-s-the-gypsy-i-am-a-rom”]

An extremist who posted racist views on Rroma and Hungarians and who was condemned in first instance to 40 months of prison appealed. He got two years on probation instead.
BAD …

– Extrémista na internete osočoval Rómov a Maďarov, dostal podmienku. In: Aktuality. 31.01.2017. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/411809/revucan-na-internete-osocoval-romov-a-madarov-dnes-ho-odsudili/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/411809/revucan-na-internete-osocoval-romov-a-madarov-dnes-ho-odsudili/”]

An article on the recent statements from Fico, the Slovak Prime Minister and leader of the rightist Smer party is enjoying the Trump doctrine of natilonalism, and of course, using it to bash Rroma, who in his eyes and the ones of his followers, are anyhow alien and should vanish.
Shame!

– Fico vníma Trumpa ako šancu a útočí na Rómov. In: SME Domov. 04.02.2016. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20445398/fico-vnima-trumpa-ako-sancu-a-utoci-na-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20445398/fico-vnima-trumpa-ako-sancu-a-utoci-na-romov.html”]

A rather long article about Rroma criminality – Rroma offering goods on parking lots in Žilina. The article assumes the goods are stolen and states that Rroma trick people is selling gold and jewellery.
Seems to be a lot of assumptions and a long article for something like this … Well, this is Slovakia and Rroma do not have good press there.

– Skupina Rómov sa v Žiline vypytuje na cestu, ľuďom potom rozdáva elektroniku ako darček. In: Žilinak., 23.01.2017. https://www.zilinak.sk/prispevky/5629/skupina-romov-sa-v-ziline-vypytuje-na-cestu-ludjom-potom-rozdava-elektroniku-ako-darcek [link-preview url=”https://www.zilinak.sk/prispevky/5629/skupina-romov-sa-v-ziline-vypytuje-na-cestu-ludjom-potom-rozdava-elektroniku-ako-darcek”]