Volzhsk Police Launch Raids Against Roma

Police in the city of Volzhsk, Russia (Volgograd region) have launched a massive operation to round up Roma (Gypsies), according to a January 30, 2007 report by the Russian human rights web site hro.org. Citing a local Roma leader, the article reports that since January 24 police have singled out Roma in an operation called “Tabor” (Gypsy camp). Roma have been detained on the street and in their homes.

Police officials have reportedly told the local Roma leader, Elena Nikolaevna, that the operation was inspired by reports of fraud. “This is ethnic discrimination, pure and simple,” Ms. Nikolaevna said. “Why are Gypsies being singled out? Are they saying that fraud is an ethnic trait only of Gypsies?” She plans to hold a meeting of local Roma to educate them about their legal rights; most of those detained by police are reluctant to file complaints out of fear of the consequences.