Villagers consider the interethnic conflict in Solodushino resolved.

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The conflict between the indigenous population and Roma in the Volgograd village of Solodushino has been resolved. It was inflated by security forces and the media, but has lost its urgency, according to local residents. Analysts also stated that the event was insignificant.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on May 18, a fight broke out in the village of Solodushino in the Nikolaevsky District. Four participants have been charged, and one victim has been hospitalized. Representatives of the Roma community apologized for the incident, adding that the other side in the conflict was also to blame. Their opponents cited a long-standing conflict.

Two residents of Solodushino, who asked not to reveal their last names or places of work, commented on the situation following the aforementioned conflict to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on May 29.

Vladimir said that the first Roma family settled in the village in the early 1990s. The fears that local residents had at the time turned out to be unfounded, he said. The family behaved calmly, and there were no conflicts with the local residents. Then new Roma families began arriving – in the early 2000s, a Roma community formed in Solodushino.

Conflicts mostly arose over children. They are completely ill-mannered.

“They didn’t have a baron. The woman from that first family was in charge. She kept her family in line. If any complaints arose, everyone turned to her. But that woman died. “Incidents” began. Conflicts mostly arose over children. They are completely ill-mannered. They don’t know any boundaries: they curse at adults, throw stones, and even kick them,” Vladimir said.

He said that once, electricians came to the village. “Two stones flew at their emergency vehicle.” "They blame the Roma children," he added.

Andrey lives in the district center of Nikolaevsk. His wife's parents live in Solodushino, which is located 13 kilometers from the district center. The man said the problem was "blown out of an ordinary household matter."

"Everyone's fine here: the Russian girls, whose dog the Roma women allegedly harmed, and the Roma girls. Both are sharp-tongued - they yelled at each other, then the adults intervened in the children's conflict. When they started waving sticks, Chapay (a Roma man) stepped in to separate them. "So his own people hit him in the eye with a stick," he said.

The local authorities, however, missed the opportunity and allowed the situation to escalate.

Andrei believes that the security forces' response to the conflict was "excessive." He called the media that described the incident as an interethnic conflict "yellow press." "Yes, Roma don't look after their children properly. But some Russian parents, in my opinion, raise their children incorrectly, too. They need to exercise more restraint. The local authorities missed the opportunity and allowed the situation to escalate," he commented.

Both speakers noted that the conflict in Solodushino is currently "concluded," and "there is no escalation." They also noted that local authorities are not paying due attention to such interethnic domestic conflicts and are not implementing "preventive measures."

Analysts comment on the conflict in Solodushino

Following the conflict, Volgograd journalist Vyacheslav Lemkus visited Solodushino. He spoke to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about the results of his conversations with local residents.

"In villages where Sinti and Roma communities live, authorities must keep the situation under constant review: they should respond to all complaints from both sides. Authorities must take into account such characteristics of Roma culture as isolation and cohesion, and the special treatment of their children, who are overly coddled and spoiled. Prevention, prevention, and more dialogue. Dialogue, and more dialogue." "This is a unique ethnic group, a unique culture," he said.

Communication needed to be established with both the Roma and the indigenous population. The authorities failed to do so.

Vyacheslav noted that a woman, the informal head of the Roma community, died in Solodushino. The journalist believes that the head of the settlement, Elena Tokareva, and the district authorities should have met with community representatives, found out "who they consider the baron," learned about the problems the local Roma were facing, whether there was "friction" with the indigenous population, and, if necessary, provided assistance. "Communication needed to be established with both the Roma and the indigenous population. The authorities failed to do so. "This is the result – a scandal blown out of proportion by journalists to the federal level," Lemkus said indignantly.

Alexander Verkhovsky, Director of the Sova Research Center*, noted that the "Russian Community" joined the protests of some Solodushino residents against the Roma "not at the very beginning of this story." "That is, it cannot be said that RO somehow 'incited' the conflict. For RO, this is a way to assert its authority in yet another locality and add an argument to its campaign," the human rights activist told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The current incident itself is insignificant. But in any such incident, all local residents will have something to reminisce about from the previous period.

Verkhovsky noted that conflicts with Roma communities in Russia are common. In the Solodushin case, according to Alexander, "mutual ethnicization of domestic or criminal conflicts" is highly likely. "The current incident itself is insignificant. But in any such incident, all local residents will have something to reminisce about from the previous period. This kind of tension cannot be completely ruled out. "The authorities' job is to properly investigate incidents while making it clear to everyone that any attempts at a more serious escalation will be stopped," he said.

A Caucasian Knot correspondent's inquiries to the village administration and the village school principal went unanswered. The district administration stated that they do not comment over the phone. The official suggested submitting an official request to the regional administration.