Militia continues detaining Gipsies in the Volgograd Region

In the city of Volzhsk, Volgograd Region, mass detentions of Gipsies by militia continue. Elena Konstantinova, leader of the Volgograd Regional Public Organization for Defence of the Rights of Gipsy Women and Children named "The Congress of Romany Women - Juvlicano Romano Congresso," made this statement in her interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

During the general meeting of the Gipsies of Volzhsk, Ms Konstantinova received 20 complaints from the members of the Gipsy community on the actions of employees of law enforcement bodies. The complaints ran that the Gipsies resident in the city were constantly detained.

Elena Konstantinova said that the complaints were sent to the offices of Rashid Nurgaliev, Russian Minister of Internal Affairs, and General Public Prosecutor Yuri Chaika. The answer was received only from the MIA. The Ministry's officials have informed that all the complaints were sent back to the Volgograd Region for consideration.

Answering the question on the progress of the case about the pogrom of the Gipsy camp and murder of two persons by skinheads, Konstantinova said that the court would start working in November only, since Judge Guschin and the expert are on holidays. The defendants' advocates asked to change the freedom restriction measures for their clients. But the court left them behind the bars.

We remind you that on April 13, 2006, local skinheads made a pogrom in the Gypsies' tent camp located in the vicinity of Volzhsk near River Akhtuba. Everyone who was in the camp was beaten. Two persons died from the wounds. During the pogrom, the criminals were shouting out nationalist slogans.