International Renaissance Foundation: Stop Ethnic Violance in Slovyansk!

In Slovyansk, the Eastern Ukraine, separatists began riots targeted at Roma
residing in the city. The armed separatists burst into houses inhabited by Roma,
beaten and robbed them regardless of gender or age, UNIAN reports. According to
this report, they have beaten even women and children. Separatists said that
they operate under the direct order of their "people’s mayor Vyacheslav
Ponomarev". The armed men loaded the property of Roma families in the truck,
eyewitnesses say.

While military and political conflicts the most vulnerable groups are the
minorities. They often are victims of massacres and one of the first hostages of
the actions made by aggressors.

During World War II, the Roma have become the second largest nation suffered
from the actions of the Nazis. During World War II more than 500 000 Roma were
exterminated. In Ukraine they were among the first victims of mass tragedy at
Babi Yar.

In order to intimidate and destabilize the situation in Eastern Ukraine the
separatists choose the most vulnerable group of people as their target.
Ukrainian and international communities must respond immediately to prevent
separatists’ ethnic cleansing attempts in Slaviansk area.

For many years The International Renaissance Foundation (IRF) support
comprehensive integration of the Roma people into a social life of Ukraine
strengthening at the same time cultural identity of Roma. The IRF refers to
Ombudsman of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry of Internal Affairs and
the Ministries of Culture and Social Policy to verify the information on Roma
pogroms in Slovyansk and take all the necessary steps to stop violence against
Roma, as well any kind of human rights abuse based on ethnic grounds.

Yevhen Bystrytsky
Executive director of
International Renaissance Foundation

Olga Zhmurko
Director of

Roma of Ukraine Program Initiative of
International Renaissance
Foundation