11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

In March 2007 authorities in Chudovo carried out district court ruling to demolish homes of several members of local Roma community; court hearings began in case of killing of 80-year-old Romani man ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22700]

"On March 23, authorities in Chudovo, Novgorod Oblast, carried out a district court ruling to demolish the homes of several members of the local Roma community. According to the court decision, the construction of the homes was unauthorized as there were no proper deeds of ownership for the houses or land.

Authorities previously bulldozed 37 houses in May and June 2006 that belonged to more than 200 Roma, including over 100 children, in the village of Dorozhnoe, Kaliningrad Oblast, and set fire to the ruins. Over 100 of the displaced Roma were forced to live in temporary shelters and were threatened with physical expulsion. Regional authorities began their eviction campaign by initiating court proceedings to have the Romani families' ownership of their homes declared illegal. According to observers, the proceedings violated fundamental standards of due process. In November 2006 the Open Society Institute's Justice Initiative filed a request for interim measures with the ECHR on behalf of 33 of the evicted.

On April 13, court hearings began in the case of the April 2006 killing of Grigoriy Marienkov, an 80-year-old Romani man, by approximately 20 youths in the Volgograd region. The attackers also beat members of Marienkov's family. Press reports indicated that police arrested six suspects, all between the ages of 17 and 20. Further information on the case was not available. "

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

European Roma Rights Center noted "alarming patterns" of human rights abuse of Roma; several attacks on Roma described ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19987]

"A May 2005 report by the European Roma Rights Center noted "alarming patterns" of human rights abuse of Roma in the country. The report also asserted that the magnitude of the abuse was only comparable to that of the impunity of the perpetrators. The report stated that the media's frequent association of Roma with drug dealing provided the context for many of the human rights violations against them. It provided evidence of widespread police violence against Roma and noted that the abuse was rarely reported to higher authorities.

On December 17, a neighbor of a Romani family, who also happened to be a militiaman, reportedly sprayed an unidentified gas either in the apartment or on the landing next to the their apartment in Petrozavodsk, Karelia. The gas severely sickened the family's six-year-old child and an elderly relative, according to Olga Martynova, head of the Society of Gypsy Culture of Karelia. According to the family, they did not do anything to provoke the man and called militia. Shortly afterwards, policemen stormed into the house and started to beat everyone present, including elderly persons and women. The report offered no information about any criminal charges filed, but the family allegedly filed a complaint to the prosecutor's office and it was accepted.

On September 12, in Belgorod, the far right wing group, Belgorod National Corps, was found guilty of the assault on a Romani family. In August 2005 an armed, masked youth gang of approximately 20 persons attacked the house of the Nikolaenko family shouting "kill the gypsies." A Molotov cocktail was thrown into the kitchen window, followed by another incendiary device. The owner of the house, his wife, and son were then attacked as they fled into the yard. Eleven persons were detained, including two minors and also former students of the Judiciary Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. All the detained were charged with hooliganism, deliberate infliction of grievous bodily harm by an organized group motivated by ethnic hatred, and organization of and participation in an extremist group. Three of the detained were also charged with the involvement of minors in criminal activity. The trial began on June 6; and on September 12, all the defendants were found guilty. The group leaders Maksim Sharov, Andrey Petrov, and Ilya Sutula were sentenced to five, four, and three years of imprisonment respectively. Another seven of them received prison terms of 18 months to 33 months in prison. One of them received a suspended sentence after cooperating with investigators.

From May 29 to June 2, authorities bulldozed 37 houses belonging to more than 200 Roma, including over 100 children, in the village of Dorozhnoe, Kaliningrad Oblast, and set fire to the ruins. Over 100 of the displaced Roma were forced to live in tents and other temporary shelters and were threatened with physical expulsion from their land, while the others left of were expelled from the area. Regional authorities began their eviction campaign by initiating court proceedings to have the Romani families' ownership of their homes declared illegal. According to observers, the proceedings violated fundamental standards of due process; on May 3, the court issued decisions rejecting the families' claims. On November 3, the Open Society Institute's Justice Initiative filed a request for interim measures with the ECHR on behalf of 33 of the evicted.

In July a Romani settlement in Arkhangelsk was demolished by local authorities. The mayor of Arkhangelsk offered about $110,000 (3 million rubles) to the local Romani community as compensation for resettlement to Volgograd Oblast. The community reportedly accepted the sum and left.

On April 13, according the European Roma Rights Center, approximately 20 youths killed Grigoriy Marienkov, a Romani man, and a Russian woman whose first name was Galina. The attack and killings took place in the Volgograd region. The attackers also severely beat and injured approximately six members of Marienkov's family. According to press reports, police arrested six suspects, all of whom were between the ages of 17 and 20, and three of whom were girls. The regional prosecutor reportedly opened a criminal investigation under statutes related to racially or ethnically motivated murder.

In February 2005 approximately 400 members of the Romani community left the village of Iskitim, Novosibirsk Oblast, after a group of armed men attacked and burned a number of Romani houses there. According to NGOs, similar attacks took place in January 2005 and in 2004. Members of the Romani community indicated that, after those incidents, law enforcement and municipal authorities had done nothing to prevent a recurrence. Police eventually arrested seven suspects, and the Novosibirsk regional prosecutor's office took over the investigation. The case reached court March 31, and there were reports that warrants were issued for nine other suspects. The case reached court on March 31. "

Document(s): Open document

15.11.2006 - Source: European Roma Rights Center

Racially motivated violence against Roma occurs with disturbing frequency in various parts of the country ("Racist Attacks on Roma in Russia Cause Death and Severe Injury") [ID 17714]

"European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) monitoring of the human rights situation of Roma in Russia indicates that nationalistextremist movements have been gaining popularity in Russia over the past decade, and racially motivated violence against Roma occurs with disturbing frequency. Roma are particularly exposed to attacks by nationalist-extremist vigilante groups because they live in compact settlements that are easy to identify. The 13 April attack has precedents in the same area of Russia. In August 2001, a Romani community settled along the Tsaritsa river near Volgograd was attacked by skinheads armed with metal bars, stones and wooden truncheons, and two Roma were killed.

 The ERRC report “In Search of Happy Gypsies: Persecution of Pariah Minorities in Russia” published in May 2005 (the full text of the report is available at: ), details numerous attacks against Roma in various parts of the country, including arson and indiscriminate beatings, causing death and severe injuries to Romani individuals. Most often these actions are not investigated or police deny racial motivation. Many attacks are not even reported to the police due to reasonable fear of harassment and extortion by the police themselves."

Document(s): Open document

01.05.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Anti-Romani racism widespread in Russia, abusive raids on Romani neighborhoods by law enforcement authorities and disproportionately frequent detentions ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2006 (Events of 2005)") [ID 15646]

"Roma and other ethnic minorities were particularly vulnerable to abuse in the context of intensified efforts to fight terrorism, organized crime and drug dealing. The “war on drugs” had gradually generated the image of the “Gypsy” as the typical drug dealer, and the identification of the Roma with drug dealing had reached a point of near synonymous usage in the media.Racial discrimination against Roma was manifested in abusive raids on Romani neighborhoods that were routinely carried out by law enforcement authorities; disproportionately frequent detention of Roma as well as unlawful and unprovoked use of violence during detention; arbitrary and disproportionate checks of personal documents of Roma; extortion of money and arbitrary seizure of property of Roma; and fabrication of criminal cases against Roma. Police raids targeting Romani communities often involved racial profiling, and detentions based on such profiling were often accompanied by the fabrication of incriminating evidence against Roma, usually through the “planting” of drugs. Roma on whom drugs were “found” were sentenced to imprisonment or released in exchange of bribes extorted from their families. Roma were frequently reluctant or unwilling to seek justice for illegal acts by police, with intimidation and harassment by police as well the perception that law enforcement officials were immune from sanctions serving as powerful deterrents. In the few known instances in which Roma filed complaints against police officers, the complaints were rejected or the criminal cases against police officers were eventually terminated for lack of sufficient evidence for the alleged illegal actions. Racism also affected access of Roma to protection against violence and abuse by private actors. Public authorities did little to nothing to counteract anti-Romani racism and, in some instances, law enforcement officials knowingly failed to prevent violent assaults on Romani communities. Racial discrimination of Roma in the criminal justice system created an environment in which both public officials and private actors felt confident that they would be absolved from responsibility for racially-motivated violence and exposed the victims to further abuse."

Document(s): Open document

01.05.2006 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Roma experience discrimination by being denied residence registration; vicious circle of abuse for many Roma, who are disproportionately often targets of ID checks by police ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2006 (Events of 2005)") [ID 15647]

"Racism also effectively precluded many Roma from accessing education, health care, housing, employment, and public services. Discrimination against Roma in access to social and economic rights took two broad forms. Many Roma were subjected to direct discrimination and faced less favorable treatment on grounds which expressly related to their ethnicity. However, Roma also experienced indirect discrimination whereby they were denied access to social and economic rights on grounds that they did not have personal documents, including residence registration. The system of residence registration itself contributed to a vicious circle of abuse for many Roma. While Roma were often arbitrarily denied residence registration by the authorities, they were also disproportionately often the targets of ID checks by the police and those Roma who were caught in such checks were often detained and subject to ill-treatment."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

"Alarming patterns" of human rights abuse of Roma, says European Roma Rights Center ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144],  [ID 11399]

"A report by the European Roma Rights Center issued in May noted "alarming patterns" of human rights abuse of Roma in the country. The report also asserted that the magnitude of the abuse was only comparable to that of the impunity of the perpetrators. The report said that the media's frequent association of Roma with drug dealing provided the context for many of the human rights violations against them. It provided evidence of widespread police violence against Roma and noted that the abuse was rarely reported to higher authorities.

On February 14, approximately 400 members of the Romani community fled the village of Iskitim, Novosibirsk Oblast, after a group of armed men attacked and burned a number of Romani houses in the village. According to NGOs, similar attacks took place in the village in January 2005 and December 2004. Members of the Romani community indicated that in the aftermath of those incidents, law enforcement and municipal authorities had done nothing to prevent further attacks. The police eventually arrested seven suspects and the Novosibirsk regional prosecutor's office took over the investigation. The case had reportedly not gone to court by year's end. There were also reports that warrants were issued for nine other suspects. On the night of November 10 two more Romani houses in Iskitim suffered arson attacks, in which a Romani women and her child sustained injuries. The child later died from the injuries received during the attack."

Document(s): Open document

21.06.2005 - Source: International Federation for Human Rights

Report focused on racism and violence, police harassment, discrimination in access to education, no respect of best interests of child and access to health ("Violation of the rights of Roma children in the Russian Federation") [#33331],  [ID 11400]

Document(s): Open document

03.06.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

Racial bias against Roma persistent among state officials; police violence against Rom widespread and rarely reported ("Honouring of obligations and commitments by the Russian Federation [Doc. 10568]") [#32710],  [ID 11401]

"430. The European Roma Rights Centre's recent research has revealed that police violence against Roma in Russia is widespread, though rarely reported to the authorities. While police brutality and abuse by national security forces is a general problem in Russian law-enforcement in recent years, and has been a primary concern of international and Russian human rights organisations, Roma along with several other ethnic minorities are particularly vulnerable. Racial-profiling of Roma by the police, the targeting of Roma settlements for abusive police operations and persistent racial stereotyping of Roma as criminals and drug-dealers by law-enforcement officials demonstrate racial bias in the treatment of Roma by state officials. Roma suspects are tortured and ill-treated in police custody, and in some instances physical abuse has resulted in death of the victims. Roma settlements are raided by the police and special units mandated to fight illegal drug dealing at any time of the day and the night. Abduction of Roma family members and the extortion of money in exchange for their release is a widespread pattern of abuse.

431. We, therefore, call on the Russian authorities to take urgent measures to combat racially motivated violence, secure effective protection of minorities against any form of harassment and discrimination, and ensure the prosecution of those guilty of such abuses disregarding their social status. We are deeply concerned that law enforcement bodies often refuse to qualify racist attacks as racially motivated and refer to them as actions of "hooligans". This practice should be abandoned as it contributes to the promotion of an impunity climate with regard to racial intolerance and violence."

Document(s): Open document

19.05.2005 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Alarming pattern of human rights abuse of Roma by law enforcement authorities and private actors ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2005 (Events 2004)") [#32117],  [ID 11402]

"Since 2000, the European Roma Rights Center (ERRC, an IHF member organization) has carried out extensive monitoring in the Russian Federation. This monitoring has revealed an alarming pattern of human rights abuse of Roma and other people perceived as “Gypsies,” whose total number is estimated to exceed one million in the country.
Russian law enforcement authorities have routinely engage in racial profiling targeting Roma, arbitrarily raid Romani settlements, abduct and extort money from Roma and subject Roma to torture and ill-treatment in detention. In most cases, such abuses are not legally remedied, which has created a climate of impunity. Court proceedings involving Roma, whether as defendants or victims of crime, are often conducted in violation of international due process standards.
In recent years, Roma have also increasingly become the victims of racially motivated attacks perpetrated by private actors, such as members of nationalist-extremist groups. Russian authorities have failed to take effective measures to protect Roma from such attacks. Moreover, Russian media have contributed to intolerance against Roma by engaging in prejudiced and irresponsible reporting, e.g. associating Roma with crime. Some media reports actively encourage discrimination and violence against Roma.
Throughout the country, Romani communities live in entrenched poverty and lack access to the education system, adequate housing, health care services and employment. A large number of Roma remain completely segregated from mainstream society."

Document(s): Open document

09.05.2005 - Source: European Roma Rights Center

Report on racially-motivated violence and abuse of Roma by law enforcement officials; discrimination against Roma, abuse of Roma rights by non-state actors ("In search of happy gypsies: Persecution of Pariah Minorities in Russia") [#32392],  [ID 11403]

Document(s): Open document

09.05.2005 - Source: European Roma Rights Center

Report on racially-motivated violence and abuse of Roma by law enforcement officials; discrimination against Roma, abuse of Roma rights by non-state actors ("In search of happy gypsies: Persecution of Pariah Minorities in Russia") [#32392],  [ID 16958]

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

European Roma Rights Center revealed "alarming patterns of human rights abuse of Roma" in the Russian Federation ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29515],  [ID 11404]

"Monitoring by the European Roma Rights Center (ERRC) revealed "alarming patterns of human rights abuse of Roma" in the country. The 2002 census estimated a Romani population of 182,000, but unofficial estimates put it at 1.2 million. The ERRC said that the media's frequent association of Roma with drug dealing was a problem because it provided the context for many of the human rights violations Roma experience: Torture and abuse by law enforcement officials; arbitrary police raids on Romani settlements; abduction and extortion of money by police; discrimination in the criminal justice system; violence at the hands of paramilitary and nationalist extremist groups; hostile portrayals in the media; unwillingness of local officials to provide personal documents; and poor access to jobs, education, and housing.

Evidence of widespread police violence against Roma was provided by the ERRC, although the abuse was rarely reported to higher authorities. Most police abuse during the year, according to the NGO Roma Ural, occurred during identity checks or when Romani settlements were raided. Roma often explained that it was cheaper and better to pay bribes to police than to obtain regular citizenship documents, which may cost even more in bribes."

Document(s): Open document

01.02.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Torture and ill-treatment of Roma by law enforcement agents as well as incidents of racist violence in which the Roma were not adequately protected, reported ("Discrimination against Roma") [#28670],  [ID 11405]

"Russia

* In May, St Petersburg police launched an operation targeting Roma which Amnesty International feared could lead to violations of their human rights, and in Obukhovo, St Petersburg region, Romani huts in a spontaneous settlement were allegedly burnt down by police.
* Threats of skinhead attacks in Pskov region in north-western Russia reportedly forced Roma to leave their homes due to alleged police failure to protect them."

Document(s): Open document

05.10.2004 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Report focused on abuse of Roma by state actors and law enforcement officials and by non state actors ("Violations of Roma Rights in the Russian Federation") [#26113],  [ID 11406]

Document(s): Open document

18.06.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

People of Roma ethnicity in St Petersburg and Pskov regions are in serious danger, facing attacks by police and skinhead groups ("Russian Federation - UA203/04") [#23504],  [ID 11407]

Document(s): Open document
Open document

29.09.2003 - Source: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Reports of anti-Roma violence; institutional discrimination at the state and public administration institutions observed ("Final report on OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Roma And Sinti") [#17392],  [ID 11408]

"Russian Federation, March 10, 2003: "Russia is in the throes of an extreme outbreak of
racism. Roma in Russia today are in a state of raw exposure to the abuse of their
fundamental rights. Reports of anti-Romani violence we receive from Russia are, in
magnitude and kind, of a different and greater order than those we have seen elsewhere.
And yet to date there has been for the most part silence about Roma rights issues in Russia.
We hope CERD will today begin to change that".
The state or government view on discrimination against the Roma and Sinti in general
counters such opinions. It claims the state obeys the principle of non-discrimination that is
inscribed in its Constitution and in particular laws. It also denies that Roma and Sinti are
systematically mistreated or that existing laws allow for such differential treatment.
Eventually it recognises that cases of discrimination and abuse of power against them may
occur but that is nothing pertaining to a systemic phenomenon.
[...]
Leaving aside the controversy of whether discrimination against Roma and Sinti is
systemic, we still face point b). As numerous reports aptly evidence, major deficiencies in
this area that are either structural, legal, or human, that is, related to the conduct of human
personnel while caring out its tasks (unbiased attitude or colour-blindness, respect, efficacy,
transparency, competence, knowledge, personal culture, etc.). Altering practices denounced
as generating institutional discrimination at the state and public administration institutions
are therefore rightly identified as an area where the ODIHR/Contact Point Action Plan can
contribute the most, especially as regards the justice, police, and ombudsmen office."

Document(s): Open document

13.11.2001 - Source: Council of Europe - European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

Precarious living conditions ("Second report on the Russian Federation: Adopted on 16 March 2001 and made public on 13 November 2001 [CRI(2001) 41]") [#4815],  [ID 11409]

"According to the official data, based on the 1989 census, the Roma Gypsy population of the Russian Federation numbers around 150,000 persons. Some Roma/Gypsy organisations, however, estimate figures over ten times higher. The Roma/Gypsy population – which includes persons from other CIS countries like Belorussia, Ukraine, Moldova and the Republics of Central Asia – is scattered throughout the territory of the Russian Federation, both in big cities and in rural areas. Due to the precarious living conditions, however, there appear to be migratory movements of Roma/Gypsies towards big cities like Moscow and abroad. Lack of data on the Roma/Gypsy population can in part be
connected to the fact that many Roma do not have passports or other official documents and that, in some cases, they are not registered."

Document(s): Open document

13.11.2001 - Source: Council of Europe - European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

Lack of access to basic services ("Second report on the Russian Federation: Adopted on 16 March 2001 and made public on 13 November 2001 [CRI(2001) 41]") [#4815],  [ID 11410]

"In general, the Roma/Gypsy population is faced with poor living conditions and lack of access to basic services. This is due to a combination of reasons, including a lack of awareness on the part of the Roma population of their rights, indifference or discriminatory behaviour on the part of the local authorities and, in some cases, lack of registration. School enrolment rates of Roma/Gypsy children currently also appear to be decreasing. This results in a social marginalisation which encourages a situation in which part of the Roma/Gypsy population is more likely to become involved in illegal activities and which in turn makes them more vulnerable to prejudice on the part of the society in general, but also on the part of law enforcement officials, especially as Roma/Gypsies are often lumped together with other visible minorities. This situation is reflected in the negative stereotyping of Roma/Gypsies in the media and in the occurrence of episodes of ethnic violence directed against Roma. ECRI notes that some initiatives have been taken at the local level aimed at improving certain aspects of the situation of the Roma/Gypsy communities. However, ECRI draws once more the attention of the Russian authorities to its General Policy Recommendation N°3 on combating racism against Roma Gypsies, which proposes a range of legislative and policy measures governments can take. ECRI urges the Russian authorities to distribute this widely among local administrations in areas where Roma/Gypsies live and to promote its implementation, both at federal and at regional level."

Document(s): Open document