On the demolition of the Ostrava settlement Bedřiška
Ústí nad Labem, November 14, 2025

The Czechoslovak Roma Union condemns with deep dismay and resolute opposition the ongoing demolition of the Ostrava settlement Bedřiška. We consider this step to be a tragic failure of the city of Ostrava and the entire society, which destroys a unique example of successful integration and exemplary coexistence of the Roma and non-Roma communities.

Bedřiška was a role model, not a problem
Bedřiška represented hope and proof that the Roma community can be a full-fledged part of society. From a place that was deliberately created as a ghetto for “problematic” Romani families in the 1990s, two decades of hard work by local residents, non-profit organizations, and people of good will have managed to build a functioning, cohesive community where:

Roma and non-Roma lived side by side in peace and mutual respect

A functioning community center provided education and support to disadvantaged children

Residents actively participated in the maintenance and improvement of their environment

Locals themselves offered their own funds for house repairs and asked for the possibility of buying them

Ignoring the voice of the community.

The residents of Bedřiška repeatedly asked the city for dialogue, for the possibility of buying houses, and for the creation of a social housing cooperative. They offered their own participation in repairs, their own financial resources, and their own responsibility. Instead of an answer, they received excavators and demolition crews.

This action is not just an administrative decision – it is a denial of basic human rights to housing, to a home, to a community. It is a refusal to acknowledge the efforts of people who have spent years trying to break free from stigma and prove that integration is possible.

A societal loss

The demolition of Bedřiška is not just a loss for its residents. It is a loss for all of Czech society. We are destroying:
A model example of successful integration that could inspire dozens of other communities
Proof that the Roma community is not a problem, but a solution
Hope for thousands of Roma living in socially excluded localities
Trust in democratic institutions and justice
Our demand
The Czechoslovak Roma Union urgently demands:

Immediate halt to further demolition
Starting a real dialogue with the residents of Bedřiška
Enablement of house purchase and creation of a social cooperative, as requested by the locals A public apology to the residents for ignoring their voice
A systemic change in the approach to Roma communities throughout the Czech Republic A warning for the future
The demolition of Bedřiška sends a devastating signal to all Roma communities in the country: No matter how hard you try, society will still reject you. This cynicism and indifference to people’s efforts are breeding grounds for radicalization, for loss of hope, for deepening the gap between the majority and the minority.

Bedřiška was supposed to be a showcase of success. Instead, it is becoming a monument to our collective indifference.
The Czechoslovak Roma Union stands firmly with the residents of Bedřiška and all those who fight to preserve this exemplary community. We will not remain silent until justice is served.

On behalf of the Czechoslovak Roma Union:
Karel Karika
Chairman of the Czechoslovak Roma Union
Media contact:
Tel.: 603 443 852

“When we destroy places where integration works, what do we really want? Bedřiška will live on in our hearts as proof that coexistence is possible – even if society prefers him to excavators.”