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Murder

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Murder

A newborn girl named Maria was buried in Sheffield after dying violently just hours after birth, with her funeral attended by grieving family members.

The mother, Andrea, is accused of involvement in the murder but claims she was unaware of her pregnancy and was not allowed to attend the funeral due to safety concerns.

The case has shocked the public due to the brutality of the attack, with Maria suffering 33 stab wounds, and several adults, including her mother, are facing charges.

Bad.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Romani Politics

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Romani Politics

The Union of Roma in Serbia demands that the electoral list “United Roma for a United Serbia – Dejan Vlajković” withdraw from the elections for the National Council of the Roma National Minority, citing a lack of political and moral legitimacy.

They emphasize that the National Council should not serve personal or party interests but should be an independent institution dedicated to protecting the identity, language, culture, education, and information of the Roma community.

The Union raises concerns about political dependence among council members and allegations of manipulation of vulnerable Roma populations, including vote-buying and political pressure, urging authorities to investigate these claims.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Stolipinovo

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Stolipinovo

A German journalist visited the Plovdiv neighborhood of Stolipinovo to challenge the stereotype of it being the ‘most dangerous destination in the world.’

She highlighted both the visible issues in the area, such as waste and poor infrastructure, and the everyday life of its residents, including shops and social interactions.

The report emphasizes the need to recognize systemic issues and discrimination affecting the community, rather than attributing problems solely to the residents themselves.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria Presidential Vote

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Bulgaria Presidential Vote

In the first round of presidential elections, Radostin Vasilev performed well in Roma neighborhoods, receiving more votes than his competitors Iliana Yotova and Andrey Gyurov in several sections. Vislev is heading a populist nationalist party, so effectively Roma voted against themselves …

Voter turnout in these areas was notably low, ranging from 2-9%, with many sections reporting only a handful of votes cast.

The reasons for the low turnout include the absence of vote-buying, and Vasilev’s unexpected success raises questions about his appeal among the Roma community.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Amala

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Amala

The Amala ensemble, founded in 1996 by composer Imer Traja Brizani, celebrates its 30th anniversary alongside Brizani’s personal milestones of 46 years in the arts in Slovenia and 53 years of professional activity since 1973.

A concert on November 5, 2026, at Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana will honor the International Romani Language Day and feature the release of a commemorative vinyl album, ‘Amala 30 Years’.

The concert will showcase Brizani’s original compositions and arrangements of Romani songs, blending Romani musical heritage with jazz and classical influences, and will include special guests and a focus on the Arli dialect of the Romani language.

Belgium News Western Europe

Balkan Festival

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Balkan Festival

Balkan Trafik! festival celebrates 20 years of Balkan music and culture in Brussels from November 19-21, 2026, featuring diverse performances and cultural exchanges.

The festival will include various musical genres, workshops, discussions on cultural identity, and a fashion show highlighting Balkan traditions and contemporary designs.

A free afternoon event on November 21 will focus on cultural transmission, debates, and community engagement, promoting interaction between artists and the public.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

New Book

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New Book

The book “Gypsies, Roma, and Travellers in Higher Education: Contemporary Critical Perspectives” has been published, edited by Julia Morgan, Hazel Marsh, and Colin Clark.

It features contributions from various stakeholders, including personal accounts from members of the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities, addressing barriers to education.

The editors argue that low participation in higher education is not solely due to community attitudes but is influenced by racism, historical exclusion, and systemic inequalities in educational institutions.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Funds

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Funds

Hungary has secured approximately 92 billion HUF (250.4 million euros) in funding from EEA and Norway grants for the period 2021-2028, aimed at various projects including environmental initiatives, healthcare, local development, culture, and Roma integration.

The agreement was signed by representatives from Hungary, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, marking a significant improvement over the previous funding period where Hungary did not receive its allocated funds due to disputes over civil fund management.

Hungarian Finance Minister András Kármán assured that the spending processes would be public and transparent, with Hungary contributing an additional 12 billion HUF (over 32.6 million euros) from its own budget for co-financing.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Racist Sport

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Racist Sport

The controversy surrounding the chants from Romanian FCSB footbal club supporters during the derby against Rapid continues, with calls for FCSB to lose the match due to alleged discriminatory behavior. Gigi Mustață, leader of the Peluza Nord, defended the chants as part of a long-standing tradition in Romanian football, denying any racist intent and emphasizing personal relationships with Roma community members.

Mustață criticized perceived double standards in how rival fan behavior is treated, arguing that offensive chants are common across all teams and should be addressed uniformly.

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Representation

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Representation

The Roma Council of Montenegro has initiated a proposal for legal measures to ensure direct political representation of Roma in the Montenegrin parliament.

They suggest implementing a special affirmative action model that includes one parliamentary mandate with a low electoral threshold of 0.35% of valid votes.

The Roma community, despite constitutional guarantees, currently lacks direct representation in parliament, and the Council urges legislative bodies to address this issue before the next parliamentary elections.

Whether this is the right approach can definitively be discuyssed. A few lone Roma PMs will not change anything.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Dance

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Dance

The project “Dance – a bridge between culture, tradition, and friendship” aims to foster educational integration and intercultural competence among students from different ethnic backgrounds through dance and cultural heritage exploration.

The school has a student group for Roma dance called “Dance Roma,” which promotes creativity, teamwork, and cultural identity, culminating in participation in the Children’s Roma Festival “Open Heart” in Veliko Tarnovo.

An educational visit to the village of Chelopek is planned to enhance learning outside the classroom, focusing on the region’s cultural, historical, and natural heritage.

News Switzerland

Transit Sites

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Transit Sites

The only transit site for travelers in the canton of Lucerne is at risk of being eliminated by early 2027, with no replacement solution in sight. So-called transitsites are reserved for non-Swiss travellers, mostly Roma.

Simon Röthlisberger, director of the foundation “Future for Swiss Travelers,” emphasizes the need to view traveling minorities as a natural part of Switzerland rather than a burden.

The foundation reports a bleak situation for travelers in Lucerne due to a lack of available sites and slow progress in finding new locations.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Ilona Szabó

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Ilona Szabó

In honour of the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, a public space in Józsefváros in Budapest has been named after Ilona Szabó. The young Roma woman—nicknamed “Kócos” (meaning “Shaggy-haired” or “Tousled”)—became an armed revolutionary at Corvin Passage and was struck by a fatal shot on Práter Street.

The naming of this public space was preceded by research aimed at gaining the most accurate possible understanding of Ilona Szabó’s life and story, as not every detail can be verified through historical documentation.

Nevertheless, historians supported the initiative, as did various Roma civil society and professional organisations (such as UCCU and the Józsefváros Roma Minority Self-Government), with whom the local government also consulted.

Greece News Western Europe

Greece and Roma

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Greece and Roma

Aphrodite Latinopoulou, president of the “Voice of Reason” party (extreme-right), criticized Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for failing to change the country despite having two opportunities, accusing him of corruption.

She condemned the government’s social policies, particularly regarding immigration and social benefits, claiming that integration cannot be achieved through financial aid and that certain groups, including immigrants and Roma, should not receive benefits.

Latinopoulou used derogatory language, insisting on the term “Gypsies” instead of “Roma,” and linked social benefits to crime, calling for stricter measures against those exhibiting criminal behaviour.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Roma and the Election

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Roma and the Election

A 77-year-old election commission member, Mariyana Angelova, was removed from her position after alleging that the commission chairman was improperly assisting voters by directly indicating choices instead of explaining the voting process.

Angelova claims that many voters from a local Roma neighborhood were unable to read or write and needed help, but she insists that the chairman’s actions violated the secrecy of the vote.

Despite being accused of political agitation and racial insults, Angelova denies these allegations and plans to appeal her removal, expressing concern for her family’s safety in the current political climate.

In the Burgas Romani neithbourhoods of Pobeda and Komluka, less than 5% of registered voters voted. Many residents, primarily of Roma origin, expressed disinterest in voting due to unmet expectations and frustrations with the voting machines.

Bosnia News Eastern Europe

Hate Crimes

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Hate Crimes

Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina are more frequently exposed to potential hate crimes compared to individuals of other nationalities, yet they report these incidents less often.

The study indicates that 24% of Roma respondents experienced at least one potential hate crime in the past year, compared to 18% of non-Roma respondents.

Recommendations include creating an action plan to address hate crimes against Roma, involving education and training for authorities and the public.

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Ustaša and Roma

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Ustaša and Roma

The article discusses mass crimes committed against Roma by Ustaše and Chetniks during World War II, highlighting their genocidal intent to exterminate the Roma population using brutal methods such as shootings and burning alive.

It details a specific crime in Križpolje where seven Roma families (38 individuals) were taken by German and Ustaše forces in early 1944 and subsequently murdered on a nearby hill.

The perpetrators were part of the 392nd Legionary Infantry Division, known as the Blue Division, which operated in Croatia and was responsible for numerous civilian deaths and atrocities during the war.

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

No notable news about Roma this week in France, apart from a fire in one camp in Western France. It just shows that when there are news, there is no need to bash on Roma…

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Roma Politics

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Roma Politics

Veljko Kajtazi, the Member of Parliament representing the Roma community and 11 other national minorities, stated on Saturday that he left the National Minorities Parliamentary Group because an agreement within the group—that he would be nominated for the position of Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament—was broken.

Following the retirement of Furia Radina, Armin Hodžić from the Bosniak, Albanian, Montenegrin, Macedonian, and Slovenian minorities was elected as the new vice-president, which Kajtazi argues was against their prior agreement.

He claims this constitutes discrimination against the Roma community, but adds that he will continue to support the government of Andrej Plenković.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Brawl

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Brawl

New mass brawls and street fights occurred between two rival clans in the Roma neighborhood of Petrich, Bulgaria, resulting in injuries and police intervention. The police had to fire shots into the air to disperse the fighting crowd, and one person has been detained while others involved are being sought.

Tensions remain high in the area, with increased police presence and potential assistance from gendarmerie to ensure resident safety amid ongoing clan conflicts.

Bad …

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