Recognition of the Roma Genocide

 Recognition, official texts

In Bulgaria, the Holocaust is recognised; however, there is no information whether the Roma are recognised or not as victims of the Genocide.

In Bulgaria, the 10th March has been designated as the “Day of the Holocaust and Rescue of the Bulgarian Jews”, also known as the Day of Holocaust Victims. This date was appointed by the Council of Ministers in its Decision No. 5 from February 2003 as the “Day of the Salvation of the Bulgarian Jews and of the Victims of the Holocaust and of the Crimes against Humanity” which is also known as the “Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and of the Victims of Crimes against Humanity”.

The date marks the anniversary of the day in 1943 when Dimar Peshev, the Deputy Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly together with Metropolitan Bishop Stephan of Sofia, Metropolitan Bishop Cyril of Plovdiv as well as many other prominent public figures and with the support of members of the general population, prevented the planned deportation of 50 000 Bulgarian citizens of Jewish origin to the Nazi concentration camps. The day was first marked with an official commemoration in 2002. (See “CAHROM (2013)15 Overview on the Recognition of the Genocide of Roma and Sinti (Pharrajimos / Samudaripen) during World War II and on Related Remembrance Days in member States of the Council of Europe”, page 6)

 Data (camps locations, Remembrance places, measures etc.)

Traditionally, the 10th March commemorative event is held in front of a plaque dedicated to the memory of Dimar Peshev, located near the National Assembly building.

During the Second World War, as an ally of Germany, Bulgaria introduced restrictive laws against the Roma. They were denied access to the central parts of Sofia, forbidden to use public transportation and were given smaller food rations than the rest of the population. In some areas, they were forcibly converted to Christianity (Marushiakova et al., 1993: 87). Roma were forced to work for the state, and marriages between Bulgarians and Roma were outlawed in 1942 (Kenrick and Puxon, 1998: 99). Although Bulgarian Roma, together with Bulgarian Jews, were put in camps in Bulgaria, neither of them were deported to concentration camps in Germany. According to the German Ambassador to Bulgaria in former times, “Bulgarians had grown up with Armenians, Greeks and Gypsies…,” and “they had no innate prejudice against the Jews” (Kenrick and Puxon, 1998: 100; Crowe, 1996: 19). The Jews and Roma who lived in territories occupied by Bulgaria, however, were sent to concentration camps. Still, Roma death rate in Bulgaria during the war was one of the lowest in Europe (Crowe, 1996: 19). These processes continued after 9th September 1944 when the Roma became the targets of purposeful, though rather inconsistent or formal, state policy.

 Specialised institution, commission, research centre etc., dealing with this issue

According to the available information, there is no specialised institution, commission or research centre specifically dealing with the issue of the Roma Genocide.

Bulgaria participates in the “Decade of Roma Inclusion”, an international initiative to improve the socio-economic status and social inclusion of Roma, like eight other governments committing themselves to "work toward eliminating discrimination and closing the unacceptable gaps between Roma and the rest of society".

The rights of the Roma people in the country are also represented by various political parties - most notably the "Graždansko Obedinenie 'Roma'" (Civil Union "Roma") - and cultural organisations.

The National Council for cooperation on Ethnic and Demographic Issues (NCCEDI)
Maya Cholakova, Ph. D.
Telephone: +359 2 940 20 15
E-mail: [email protected]

Roma Bureau - Sofia Foundation
96, Alexander Stamboliiski Blvd., fl. 2,
Sofia. Bulgaria
Telephone: +359 2 222105
Fax: +359 2 9201574
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Rumyana Trayanova Asenova

Roma-93 Foundation
2, Petar Beron St.
5200 Pavlikeni Bulgaria
Telephone: +359 610 2632
Fax: +359 610 2632
Contact: Sabi Kostadinov Atanasov

ROM – Foundation ROM in Lom
Contact: Niki Kirilov

Advancement Roma Foundation
34, Buzludzha St.
Pazardzhik Bulgaria
Telephone: +359 34 82907
Fax: + 359 34 82907
Contact: Plamen Stoyanov Tsankov

Integrated Roma Union
5, Nikola Karev St.
Sliven Bulgaria
Telephone: +359 44 23067
Fax: +359 44 36701
Contact: Petya Peeva Dimitrova

Association of Roma Women and Children
12 Malina St.
Plovdiv 4000 Bulgaria
Telephone: +359 32 622322
Fax: +359 32 273678
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Penka Karagyozova

Foundation for Regional Development ROMA - Plovdiv
Project Manager: Asen Antonov Karagyozov
12 Malina St.
Plovdiv 4000 Bulgaria
Telephone: +359 32 622 322
Fax: +359 32 273 678
E-mail: [email protected]

 Official initiatives (campaigns, actions, projects, commemoration days, museums)