Ukraine moves Roma families amid village's rage at murder

Police were sent to the village from Odessa to restore order

Ukrainian officials have decided to move dozens of Roma (Gypsies) out of a village after their ethnic Ukrainian neighbours attacked their homes.

The violence erupted on Saturday in Loshchynivka, in the Odessa region, shortly after the body of a nine-year-old girl was found. Police said there were signs she had been raped. A 21-year-old Roma man is in custody, suspected of having murdered her.


Odessa governor Mikheil Saakashvili said he shared the locals' outrage. In a video message on Facebook (in Russian) he said "anti-social elements" were involved in "massive drug-dealing" in Loshchynivka.

Ukrainian police say the situation is now under control in the village, after extra police were sent there.
On Saturday, a crowd of furious villagers set a Roma house ablaze and smashed up others, breaking windows. The Roma residents managed to flee before the violence, and none were hurt, reports say.

YouTube clips uploaded by Irina Zolotaryova appear to show the attacks on property in the village.