Funeral of King of Roma Robert Botos Taking Place in Kosice

Kosice, 19 February (TASR) - The funeral of Robert Botos, who was crowned as king of the Roma in 2014, is taking place in Kosice on Thursday. Botos passed away at the age of 54 on Sunday (15 February) as a result of health issues. The farewell ceremony included a morning funeral procession along Hlavna Street, moving from the headquarters of the Constitutional Court to St. Elizabeth's Cathedral and then on to Alzbetina Street. The coffin was carried on a special hearse drawn by four white horses. Dozens of relatives and attendees took part in the procession, which was accompanied by live music. The funeral service will subsequently take place at 1 p.m. at the Public Cemetery in Kosice. Kosice City Hall has confirmed for TASR that the organisers had asked for permission for the hearse to pass along Hlavna Street. The city police oversaw the procession to ensure that it ran smoothly and safely. The unusual sight of the carriage, horses and live music in the city centre drew a great deal of attention from passers-by. Botos was crowned as the new king of the Roma in Kosice on 12 April 2014. He saw his role mainly in unifying the Roma, in restoring the right values in Roma communities, and in cooperation with those who help the Roma. The coronation ceremony - the first ever of its kind in Slovakia - was attended by guests from both Slovakia and abroad. A golden crown was made especially for the occasion. ko/df