Bulgaria: Violence against young Roma

On 12.08.2007 a group of young people(aged 16 – 20), boys and girls, are headed to a café named ‘Flash’. It was closed and the group headed back to Fakulteta neighborhood. On their way back one of the girls – Asia Metodieva notices that a boy with a beer in his hands came out of a supermarket ‘Fantastiko’ and walked towards them. Another 15 boys join him and they surrounded the group and start beating them fiercely. They are threatened not to scream for help. The fight continues between 10 and 20 minutes. The whole group is beaten and with injures. The place is well lit and there were witnesses. A patrol car from Third Police Station refused to go to the place of the incident. After the fight the group takes a taxi and goes to Pirogov where they receive urgent aid and testified. Rumen Sashov Rumenov is in worst condition – broken jaw and is now in the relevant department of the surgery un the hospital. He has suffered two operations and there will be one more.

The case broadly spread in media and the authorities claim that the case is exaggerated and the truth is that there has been only a regular quarrel.

Romani Baht Foundation received the complaints and witness of the young people and announced it to the prosecutor’s office.

Romani Baht expects the support of Open Society – Sofia ( Ivanka Ivanova), Open Society – Budhapest, Legal Program (Emili Martinez) and other professional organizations that are committed in defending human rights and their adequate action through public means.