Five Roma families from Čierna nad Tisou in Košice region on July 28 left their state-owned flats after a mutual agreement with the local authorities, TASR newswire reported. The town council claimed that the eviction was necessary because of the poor state of the flats, which may even have threatened the lives of the inhabitants.
Two families were behind with their rent, while the other three families are unadaptable, and were living there without any rental contracts, said town officials adding that the relocation concerned around 50 people.
Mayor Marta Vozáriková confirmed that the local authorities offered the Roma the services of a lorry to move their furniture.
"The local authorities aren't able to provide them with any better conditions as we don't have any other tenement flats," said the mayor.
According to Vozáriková, the five families were constantly causing trouble and harassing their neighbours.
"The local authorities will file a criminal complaint against them for destroying town property," said Vozáriková.
Government Proxy for the Roma Miroslav Pollák in a statement provided to TASR stressed that local authorities should consult any moves, such as evictions of the Roma, with his office.
The evictions in Čierna nad Tisou concerned families whose members attacked a youth football team at the local stadium on July 26. The incident occurred after a group of Roma was asked to leave the pitch by the coach of the team before a training session. Later on, around 40 Roma, many carrying wooden clubs, attacked the team. The coach and one young footballer had to be treated in hospital.
