Roma are a part of Ukraine and its history

For your attention, an interview of a Roma public figure from the Kherson Region, Janush Panchenko, with his friend and colleague Viktor Chovka, a journalist and public figure from Uzhhorod. This is a conversation about the war:

How did you live before the war?

I worked on local television in Uzhhorod, on “Ungvar Channel 21”, I was the author of the Roma program “Romano Lav” (a Romani word), currently it is idle, but soon we will be back on the air. Also, I engaged in public work, I am the head of the public association “Hidnist” (“Dignity”), and generally we had a quiet life, but everything turned upside down with the beginning of the Russian invasion. Even looking at the fact that we live “on the edge” of the war and, thank God, nothing reaches us and does not explode.

How did the Roma react in the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

There was panic and complete chaos in every family. The Transcarpathian region is located close to the borders of Slovakia and Hungary, I think 20 % of Uzhhorod Roma left for Europe in the first days of the war. But soon half of them returned home.

A month before the start of the war, you visited me in Kakhovka (Kherson region) and even then you talked a lot about a potential invasion. Where did such premonitions come from?

I grew up in Transcarpathia in the south of Ukraine and had never even been there, so after coming to Kakhovka I felt fear because of your territorial proximity to Russia, besides, the high probability of an invasion was being talked about through all possible channels. When I arrived in your city, I only then realized that it is only 100 km from Kakhovka to the occupied Crimea. When I was driving, I did not know this, but if I had known, I might not have come at all (laughs). We joked then that in case of occupation, I would stay to live with you. Because then what to do, how to return home? I often mentioned my arrival in Kakhovka after the start of the war.

What was the first day of the war like for you?

Many joke that I foresaw the beginning of the war, the day before the invasion, on February 23, I went abroad to write several journalistic articles. And on the night of February 23 to 24, at 5 in the morning, my father called me and said “the war has begun”. I didn’t want to believe it, but I went to the Internet and immediately saw videos of explosions and news about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, I called my wife to come to me in Slovakia. But a month later, my family and I returned to Ukraine.

Why did you decide to return?

To be honest, we were sure that the invaders would not reach Western Ukraine, and we really wanted to go home, regardless of the war. We also intended to help the displaced people and our Roma from Uzhhorod, who now find themselves in an even more difficult situation. We started providing humanitarian aid: food, medicine, clothes to both Roma and non-Roma, for which we are grateful to the German “EVZ” Foundation. Our team also paid great attention to information coverage of events in Ukraine related to the state of Roma communities. We recorded war stories from the mouths of eyewitnesses, covered the topic of Roma service in the Armed Forces and the work of volunteers. We are actually doing this work now.

Many people in Ukraine migrated to Transcarpathia, especially from the hot spots, tell us how the work with IDPs was organized?

Many people arrived on evacuation trains, buses, cars, and the biggest problem was accommodation. In most cases, local Roma religious communities helped Roma immigrants – they settled them in churches and in their own homes.

Undoubtedly, the local authorities of Uzhhorod helped the Roma, but some Roma complained about the prejudiced attitude towards them: they said that they were not allowed in the carriages, kicked out of the stations and didn’t even give water to the children, that they didn’t want to rent housing to them, some complained in denial of asylum for displaced persons and denial of humanitarian aid and meals. Faced with complaints when Roma were discriminated against when crossing the border with the EU. And there are cases when Roma from Poland returned to Uzhhorod because of bad treatment towards them. Another family from Uzhhorod said that in the Czech Republic there was a segregation division of immigrants into Roma and non-Roma during resettlement. Here, Roma with small children were placed in a local prison, there are even some photos...

What were the relations between Roma and non-Roma immigrants in Uzhhorod who lived together?

More than 100 people lived in one of the Roma churches in Uzhhorod, most of them were Roma, but there were also Ukrainians among them. When I was there, I didn’t see any problems in the relationship. Ukrainians even said that they didn’t expect help from the Roma, so they were grateful to them. A parishioner of the Romani church gave them her home, free of charge, of course, and she herself went to live with her daughter. This Ukrainian family still lives in a Roma settlement. I think the Roma have shown themselves as an example of the fact that in difficult times it doesn’t matter what nationality you are, you need to help everyone without exception or prejudice. We live in the same country, in times of such trouble we need to help each other.

And what about the Roma who moved to Uzhhorod from the eastern and southern regions, because they have a slightly different idea of the Roma culture. Were there any conflicts with the locals because of this?

There were no serious conflicts, but there were, of course, some arguments and gossip. There were some attempts by the settlers to impose stricter rules regarding women’s clothing, but none of the Roma from Uzhhorod paid attention to it.

How did your work change after the start of the war?

More work has appeared on our information resource “RomaUA”. They began to cover the news about the Roma who are fighting for the freedom and victory of Ukraine. Roma are a part of the country’s history, among our acquaintances there are many heroes who defend Ukraine on the front lines. And this is one of the examples that the Roma are not what they are used to think about.

When was the first wave of Roma who voluntarily went to defend Ukraine?

As soon as the war started, many Roma boys in Transcarpathia voluntarily went to the local military commissariats, and others went to the territorial defense. I even know an Uzhhorod family from which three brothers immediately went to serve. Many Roma requested help in the construction of defense and fortification structures within our region.

Can Roma be patriots of their country, or does it contradict “Romanipe”?

Maybe many people have an outdated idea about Roma. A new generation of Roma, Roma-patriots, is now standing in defense of Ukraine. In fact, the war changed the views, and not only of Roma, on life, family, people who surrounded you. New views on the social and political life of the country appeared. Whether we like it or not, new realities, place of residence, difficulties – all these things definitely change the worldview.

On the one hand, you talk about Roma at the front, and on the other –discrimination. How can these two things coexist?

Both Roma and Ukrainians die in the war. We are experiencing the same suffering, so these two things are not compatible. We will gradually eliminate discrimination against Roma in Ukraine, it cannot happen in one day, month or year. The main thing now is to defeat the enemy.

After the end of the war, do you think there will be any changes in Ukrainian society in relation to the Roma?

There will be, of course, they already are. If you analyze social networks, you can see a lot of positive things about Roma from the side of Ukrainians. Roma give their lives for Ukraine and Ukrainian society sees and knows it. I think that the history of Ukraine will not forget about the Roma, I am sure.

How do you see the end of the war?

The victory of Ukraine, of course, including the return of Crimea. I’m sure of it! I see Ukraine blessed, peaceful, happy and prosperous!

Photo – from open Internet sources, social network Facebook.

Author: Janush Panchenko, EqualNet network

Translation: Anastasiia Tambovtseva, EqualNet network