Atrocities against the Transcarpatian Roma communities should be stopped!

Press release of MEP Lívia Járóka

Lívia Járóka, Hungarian Vice President of the European Parliament of Roma origin, condemned the atrocities committed against the Roma community in the Transcarpahtian region last weekend. She addressed several institutional leaders, including the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Council and several Commissioners concerned, urging actions.

“The Roma have never been so terrified in Ukraine as they are today. It is unacceptable that such cases occur in Europe in the 21st century. Paramilitant extremists who stab 23-year-old Roma boy to death and to wound more, cannot remain without punishment. The case must be thoroughly investigated, the perpetrators must be prosecuted and condemned.

Last week’s attack claimed an innocent life already that could have been prevented by the authorities paying enough attention in the recent months’ anti-Romani attack series in Ukraine. However, law enforcement agencies have not launched an effective investigation into these recent atrocities carried out by these groups. At the start of investigations, there is no indication that appropriate measures had been introduced or identified by perpetrators, despite the fact that the offenders announced criminal offenses on social media channels. There is neither indication that appropriate measures had been effectuated during the investigations nor they identified any perpetrators, in spite of the fact that the offenders publicized their offenses on social media channels.

Mrs Livia Járóka has contacted several fellow Members of the European Parliament and civil society organizations in order to investigate the present case and calls for concrete measures to prevent and stop hate crime.