Ethnic Tensions and Social Unrest
In 2011, the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, became the stage for significant social tensions between the Romani community (commonly referred to as "gypsies") and the local population. The most significant event of that period originated from a fatal road accident, though the incident reflected deeper issues of ethnic discrimination, social inequalities, and longstanding resentment toward the Romani community.
The accident occurred on September 23, 2011, in the village of Katunitsa, not far from Plovdiv, where a young Bulgarian boy was run over and killed by a minibus belonging to a powerful Romani family, that of Kiril Rashkov, known as "King Kiro." Rashkov had long been viewed with suspicion by the local population due to his perceived illicit wealth and his attitude, which was often seen as arrogant. The incident triggered a series of violent protests by the Bulgarian population, who accused the authorities of protecting Rashkov and failing to enforce the law equally when it came to the Romani people.
The boy’s death became the catalyst for days of unrest, during which groups of protesters, primarily young Bulgarian nationalists, marched toward Katunitsa and set fire to properties owned by the Rashkov family. The clashes were marked by episodes of violence and ethnic tensions, with strong accusations of discrimination against the Romani community. The police struggled to contain the unrest and prevent further escalation.
These events highlighted the deep social and economic divisions between the Romani community and the rest of the Bulgarian population. The Romani, often marginalized and forced to live in extreme poverty, were regularly subjected to discrimination and prejudice. However, the perception of impunity and social injustice, associated with powerful figures like Rashkov, exacerbated the discontent among non-Romani Bulgarians.
The case of Plovdiv in 2011 represents one of many episodes of ethnic conflict that have plagued Bulgaria, where the difficult integration of the Romani community remains one of the country's main social challenges. Although the events in Katunitsa were contained after several days, the wounds left by that period remained open for a long time, symbolizing a society still far from overcoming its ethnic and social divisions.