In the Roma capital of Moldova – accusations against Lithuania and Ukraine: Russia is openly glorified here
Not wanting to conflict with the very strong-minded Roma men, I got to leave their populated hill in Sorok.
The Sorokai, called the Roma capital of Moldova, has no direct connection with the Russian war in Ukraine, and I went there for a completely different reason, but the attitude of those Roma to the war is a good demonstration of the power and danger of Moscow’s propaganda.
And testified that it is much easier to manipulate the minds of uneducated people. As many as middle-aged Sorok spoke, they previously admitted that they all attended only primary school, and several retirees said they could neither read nor write at all.
When asked about the war in Ukraine, the Roma repeated the propaganda statements of Kremlin television that the fascists in Kiev were to blame for everything. In the center of the neighborhood are Roma men sitting alone in the shade and strolling, not only did they not go into such a discussion, but they began to drive me aggressively outside, calling me a U.S. agent.
The anger of the local Roma is partly understandable: 40 years ago, on the most beautiful and best hill of Sorok, they built very expensive, large and luxurious houses and hoped that this place would become the capital of all the Roma in the USSR.
The local Roma flourished at the end of the Soviet era, when they also established a treasure trove of sewing cooperatives. After selling deficient sports training, men’s swimwear and women’s ornamental bras were sold all over the USSR. The retiree, who introduced herself on behalf of Mary, claimed that she had been profitable trading in Kaunas marketplace many times, and even remembered a few Lithuanian words.
Local Roma are also thought to be treasured from drug trafficking, financial fraud and theft. Those who became rich considered it a matter of honor to build a palace as close as possible to the top of the hill.
It is said that up to a hundred euros had to be laid for the house on the plot of land, and some houses sowed more than a million euros. One of the most luxurious is the time house, which copied the US Capitol and the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.
The river of money for the Roma began to dry up unexpectedly after Moldova, like Lithuania, announced its secession from the USSR 31 years ago. With the introduction of border controls by Chisinau, the taxation of goods and the fight against shadow businesses, Roma businesses began to collapse.
Most of the younger ones went on to develop their businesses in Russia, leaving their majestic homes in Sorok to look after retired parents or poor relatives. Many of the castles that have been built have remained unfinished and are now overgrown with vines.
The 38-year-old Roma, who introduced herself on behalf of Sveta, said she lives in Moscow and runs a sewing company relocated there.
It is said that it offers bedding in large quantities to order. Sveta now came to Sorokus for her father’s funeral, and stayed here to celebrate the fortieth day of her father’s death with her relatives, according to Roma custom.
Sveta cursed the Moldovan government for increasing heating bills more this winter.
“Where it has been seen – in Moscow, the heating of an apartment is several times cheaper than that in Sorokai, and in the winter, in order not to freeze in an unheated house, parents had to squat in the kitchen and wear a long coat,” the woman was outraged.
Sviet said that in the winter, not in the magnificent palace, but in their kitchens or even in the small auxiliary huts, there were many Roma who turned off the heating.
When asked about the war in Ukraine, Swila, Mary and other women unanimously reiterated the Kremlin’s propaganda claims that Kiev’s fascists were to blame for everything. Moldova and Lithuania are also to blame for dismantling the USSR, where everyone is very friendly and the Roma can travel and earn money without hindrance.
In saying goodbye, one Roma offered to spell my future for free, but asked to keep a handful of 50 euros. After refusing to withdraw the money, Rome’s desire to tell me something very important disappeared.
Upon learning of the whereabouts of the famous gypsy baron, the late Mirči Cherari, the son, I wanted to meet him, but the door to the baron’s house was locked. The crumbling windows and stairs of the baron’s house and the seven cars rusting in the yard testified that the glory of this house had indeed faded.
In the heyday of the Soviet era, every local Roma considered it an honor to have at least one Western car. Cherari had two such machines, but now they are both rusty in her yard.
When Cherary died of diabetes 24 years ago, his funeral struck Moldova.
A specially ordered coffin worth € 15 was brought from Italy, and the white marble-covered mausoleum contained all of Mr Cherari’s personal belongings, even a computer and telephone, his favorite cognac and whiskey.
Famous Moldovan musicians played at the funeral, and Roma from six surrounding countries walked along with several thousand people.
Cherari remembers the funeral of the local Roma with great nostalgia – as well as the financial prosperity of that time. There are, however, several Roma families in Soroka who have adapted to the new conditions and are still living in affluence.
One of them, who owns 70 hectares of land and grows walnuts and apples there, invited them to visit their house. His hostess, Roksana, in her thirties, did not say anything bad about Lithuania or Ukraine, only mentioned that the war was a bad thing and hoped that it would not move to Moldova.
The meeting with Roxana was optimistic, but at the same time I thought that the Moldovan government was making a mistake by not banning Russian television.
Russian channels still dominate Moldovan television, possibly leading to the continued dominance of the Russian language in the streets of Chisinau, and the Sorok Roma blindly believe in Moscow’s propaganda.