Ukrainian authorities must stand against anti-Roma violence, address interethnic tension, restore respect for rule of law, says OSCE/ODIHR Director
WARSAW, 2 September 2016 – Michael Georg Link, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today expressed concern over the mob violence against the Roma community in the village of Loshchynivka, Ukraine, in the Odesa region, and called on Ukrainian authorities to speak up against anti-Roma rhetoric and violence, immediately address interethnic tension and restore respect for the rule of law.
“I call upon the Ukrainian authorities to enforce the law, based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination,” Director Link said. “Authorities need to firmly counter violence against and scapegoating of Roma.”
On 27 August, anti-Roma violence broke out after the arrest of a man, a suspect in the murder of a nine-year-old girl from the village. Six Roma houses were vandalized and one house was set on fire in front of a number of police officers. Ten Roma families, around 60 people, fled the village before the attack started. Following a request from non-Roma residents, the local authorities agreed to take steps to evict Roma families from the village.
“The Ukrainian authorities must halt evictions of Roma communities and provide adequate compensation for damaged property, while also addressing the interethnic tension in the village to prevent it from spreading,” said Director Link. “At the same time, authorities should initiate an investigation aimed at identifying and punishing those involved in the mob violence.”
In 2014, ODIHR’s Situation Assessment Report on Roma in Ukraine and the Impact of the Current Crises identified the main challenges Roma face in Ukraine. As part of the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti Within the OSCE Area, adopted in 2003, all OSCE participating States have pledged to improve the situation of Roma and Sinti, including with measures to ensure perpetrators of discriminatory or violent acts face punishment, by promptly and effectively investigating such cases.