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TheRuska Roma (Руска Рома), also known asRussian Gypsies (Русские цыгане) orKhaladitka/Xaladytka Roma (Халадытка Рома;lit. 'Roma Soldiers'),[1] are the largest subgroup ofRomani people inRussia andBelarus,[2] with smaller remnants of the group living inUkraine,Latvia,Poland, theUnited States,France, andCanada. They formed in theNorthwestern part of theRussian Empire from thePolska Roma who immigrated to the country in the 18th century.
Ruska Roma are divided into territorial subgroups, whose names come from the locality. For example, Pskovska Roma (fromPskov), Smolyaki (fromSmolensk), Siberyaki (Siberian), Zabaykaltsi (Transbaikalian) and Bobri (beavers). Furthermore, Ruska Roma are related toBelaruska Roma: they have a common origin and were traditionally calledChaładytka Roma.[3]
The Ruska Romani language containsRussian,Polish, andGerman lexicon, as well as some Russian and Ukrainian grammar. Most Ruska Roma areOrthodox Christians.[2]
Judging by the language of Russian Roma, their ancestors spent time in Germany and Poland before coming to the East Slavic territories. Sources start mentioning Roma on the territory of Russia from the beginning of the 18th century. For instance, Scottish traveler John Bell wrote about Roma arrivals from Poland, sent away from theTobolsk region in 1721.[4]
Arrivals became involved in entertainment, playing and singing at large celebrations. During the 19th century, Russian Roma living in Moscow and Saint Petersburg created Romani choirs, which became popular among the Russian urban population. Nomadic Russian Roma engaged in horse dealing andfortune telling.[4]
A drastic change in the life of nomadic Russian Roma took place in 1956 when a Soviet government decree banned Roma from their nomadic lifestyle. They were forced to settle in houses. Nowadays Russian Roma often live dispersed, but they tend to settle amongst other Roma to form a sense of belonging. Russian Roma prefer to live in private houses, but it is not uncommon for a Russian Romani family to live in a flat.[4]
In theJohn Wick film franchise, the titular character John Wick (bornJardani Jovonovich) is a former member of the Ruska Roma. In the series, the Ruska Roma are depicted as anorganized crime syndicate and member of the "High Table", a collection of underworld crime organizations.
Ruska Roma [...] Also called 'Xaladitka Roma' (Gypsy soldiers), are the most numerous group in Russia. These are probably the first Roma who settled in that land, likely coming from the Caucasus, and they speak an Old Romany language. They are widespread throughout Russia even up to the Kamchatka Peninsula and across the boundaries with China, as well as in Ukraine, and some of them live beyond the western border, in Poland. The Ruska Roma are an endogamic group which keeps the Romany Law.
