Gypsy boilermakers from a camp near St. Petersburg engage in crafts, have lavish weddings — and are subjected to police violence

In the autumn of 2024, the village of Verkhnie Oselki was included in police reports four times. There is a Roma community there, where security forces regularly conduct "preventive" raids. Last year, the raids became more widespread - the police are no longer just looking for drugs, but also handing out summonses to the military registration and enlistment office to dozens of Roma. Local non-Roma residents welcome the increased police visits an…