Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Czechia: Fake Attack

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The police stated that the attack on the Romano singer Jan Bendig in November, when he was sprinkled with flour on Český slavíkov, was staged to draw attention to himself. The attack was initially perceived as racist. Bendig now faces a fine of up to fifty thousand crowns. On the social network, the singer is sharply condemned for lying, for example by politician Matěj Gregor.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Czechia and Roma

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Report on the state of the Roma minority in the Czech Republic for the year 2022

On February 14, 2024, the Government of the Czech Republic approved the Report on the Status of the Roma Minority in the Czech Republic for 2022. The appointment of the historically first government representative for the affairs of the Roma minority, Lucie Fuková was one of the highlights. Other than that, small progress, but lots to do.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia, Schools, and Racism

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The case of a teacher in a high school in Seneca, Slovakia, who has been making racist statements, especially against Roma. He also ranted against homosexuals and made facist statemens. Students are protesting now.

Europe

Luxembourg and Roma

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This tiny country doesn’t often make the headlines in terms of Roma. Now Simone Beissel, a member of the municipal executive board of the city of Luxembourg is facing criticisms and demands for resignation after having made what many deem racists comments on Roma in the context of begging.

News Eastern Europe Ukraine

Ukraine and Roma

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A tender announcement for the purchase of services of local trainers in the field of anti-discrimination, as well as protection of the rights of national minorities (communities) and Roma in Ukraine was issued.

The tender was announced within the framework of the Council of Europe projects “Supporting the reform of the legislative framework regarding national minorities and strengthening the stability of national minorities and Roma in Ukraine” and “Supporting the implementation of European standards on combating discrimination and the rights of national minorities in Ukraine”, which are implemented as part of the Council’s Action Plan of Europe for Ukraine “Resilience, recovery and reconstruction” 2023-2026.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Plenipotentiary

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A meeting of representatives and workers of the local government and employees of the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma communities took place in the Partizanske city hall.

The reason for this meeting was the demolition of an apartment building where many Roma lived and was called by Roma residents of the town.

News Eastern Europe Poland Ukraine

Roma in the Ukraine

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An interview with Anzhelika Belova from Zaporozhye, now lives in Uzhgorod with her husband and daughter; activist, president of the Voice of Romni organization. She says that nobody should be ashamed of being Roma. We live in Ukraine and we are Ukrainians.

News Eastern Europe Poland

Poznan: Respite

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The Roma encampment at ul. Lechicka in Poznań will not be closed anytime soon. Developers had applied for a building permit to build several apartment houses on the site. They also applied for an environmental permit in order to start construction. This decision has been suspended by the city, meaning that they cannot proceed.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Czechia, Romanes, and Integration

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Around 250,000 Roma live in the Czech Republic, but not all of them speak Romanes. A large number of families do not speak Romanes with their preschool children, believing that this will make it easier for them to start school.

The main goal of the Roma Council is to support the strengthening of the identity and position of the Roma in the Pilsen region and to create tools for their effective integration.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Czechia, Roma, and the Police

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David Drevňák, a thirty-two-year-old Rom, received the Award of the Jihlava City Council for his many years of work with Roma youth and cultural contribution. He works as a crime prevention assistant with the city police. “There are situations that the constable can handle, but another conflict may arise. We, Roma assistants, say it in our own way with people with our Roma mentality,” says Drevňák.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and the Roma Problem

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Škocjan councilors unanimously supported the strategy for solving the Roma problem in the Škocjan Municipality 2023-2030+, from which they expect a lot.

According to the director of the municipal administration Petra Pozderec, the strategy brings clearly defined goals and measures in eight areas – living conditions, upbringing and education, social and health care, employment, culture, ensuring public safety, cooperation of members of the Roma community and the majority population.

Let’s see …

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Violinist

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An interview with Barbora Botošová. She comes from a well-known Roma musician family. Her grandfather was the violinist Ján Berky Mrenica the elder. She has been playing the violin since she was six years old, but she had to build her career on her own. Although many think that talent was in her blood, she points out that Roma people also have to exercise and train a lot.

News Eastern Europe News Switzerland Ukraine

Switzerland and Roma Refugees

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As usual with some delays, a 1-1 translation of an article published last week in the Tages Anzeiger about Roma refugees from the Ukraine and the suspicions that they are not quite what they claim to be.

This of course without a shred of any evidence…

Europe

Luxembourg: New Association

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The Roma sans frontières association was recently created in Luxembourg, to break stereotypes, help the Roma who live in the country and defend their rights and their culture. The president of the non-profit association, Dibran Saljihi, says more about it.

News Eastern Europe Ukraine

Ukraine on the Transcarpathian Roma Refugees

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Another article, this time in the Ukrainian press about the fact that there are more and more Roma refugees from Transcarpathian Ukraine arriving in Germany (and Switzerland), especially from the region of Berehove very close to the Hungarian border. Here they say these refugees hide their dual citizenship (i.e. the fact that they also have a Hungarian passport).

While Hungarian speakers can get a Hungarian passport (thanks to the current Prime Minister Viktor Orban), in order to do so, they need to read and write, which is generally not the case there (thanks to the total disregard of those Roma from the Ukrainian authorities). In fact, if citizen of the Ukraine do not speak Ukrainian because they live in remote settlements, it is actually the fault of the Ukrainian government.

  • У Німеччині виявляють все більше біженців з угорськими паспортами із Закарпаття, а саме з Берегова. In: Mukachevo.net. 16.02.2024. http://www.mukachevo.net/ua/news/view/6041721
France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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The usual. In Marseilles, a proposed so-called “Insertion village” project, a place where Roma can settle in and integrate, has been abandoned under pressure from the neighbours. Bad. In Bordeaux, a Roma camp was vacated the day before its official expulsion. Near Paris, Roma returned in a camp following a large fire.

News Eastern Europe Ukraine

Transcarpathian Ukraine: Census

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In 2024, a census of the Roma population is planned in Zakarpattia Oblast. These complete and up-to-date statistical data will help ensure more effective social and legal protection and integration of Roma.

Well, we know how it works: Integrated Roma will not declare themselves as such, probably opting to say they are Hungarians, and poor people will be declared to be Roma. The result will be as usual wrong numbers.

  • На Закарпатті проведуть перепис ромського населення. In: Golos Ukraini. 16.02.2024. http://www.golos.com.ua/news/196326
  • Яка їх реальна чисельність: на Закарпатті планують провести перепис ромського населення. In: Golos Karpat. 15.02.2024. https://goloskarpat.info/power/65ce816c9bdee/
Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Montenegro: Fire

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A fire in a Roma settlement in Bar, Montenegro, on Volujica hill, left four people dead.

The Roma Council said their thoughts are with the families of the victims and they bemoaned the precarious living conditions of the Roma there.

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