Roma in Bulgaria's Garmen Set Ultimatum to Bulgarians

Roma people living in the southwestern Bulgarian village of Garmen have issued a two-day ultimatum to Bulgarians, local media have reported.

Bulgarians demonstrating in Garmen will have a deadline until Monday noon to start "talks" with Roma residents to smooth out differences.

"If they haven't decided by Monday, I will say [on behalf] of everyone this thing is political, a Yuliyan Gerasimov, the leader of a newly-created Roma initiative committee, has told private national bTV station.

At a press conference called in by the committee, Gerasimov warned that "there must be some problem if they don't want to be with us."

The village saw days-long protests in the second half of May with Bulgarians claiming they were victims to a number of criminal offenses by Roma people and the latter complaining of discrimination.

Local Bulgarians repeatedly tried to raid the Kremikovtsi neighborhood, where dozens of Roma families live in illegal buildings. Officials urged Roma people to remove their buildings, but no dismantling has yet started to take place.

Tensions were also sparked between Bulgarians and Roma people in the Sofia neighborhood of Orlandovtsi last year.