The report on anti-Semitism in Ukraine for 2019
Updated 16.01.2020 at 15:38.
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine published the report «Anti-Semitism in Ukraine — 2019», in which it published the results of permanent monitoring of cases of anti-Semitism in Ukraine over the past year.
UJCU notes that in 2019 they focused on fixing and monitoring direct cases of anti-Semitism, which is reflected in the report.
In addition, UJCU has made efforts to conduct fact-checking — checking incidents that were discussed by the public, due to which some cases of anti-Semitism were not confirmed.
According to the UJCU's report on anti-Semitism for 2019, there were 66 cases of direct anti-Semitism in Ukraine, while in 2018 — 90 cases (according to the calculation methodology that was applied in 2019). Thus, in 2019, the level of anti-Semitism decreased by as much as 27%.
UJCU connects the decline in anti-Semitism in Ukraine with a change of government, as a result of which the active heroization of those who participated in the extermination of Jews and those involved in the Jewish pogroms decreases.
According to the conclusions cited in the UJCU report, in 2019 the level of domestic anti-Semitism decreased, but the number of acts of anti-Semitic vandalism increased.
You can read the report online below by clicking on the corresponding content field. Also, the report «Anti-Semitism in Ukraine — 2019» is available for download in PDF format (4.3 megabayt).
One of the main goals of the activity of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine is monitoring and defining the cases of anti-Semitism in Ukraine This task is defined by UJCU Statute stipulating that UJCU monitors, defines and counters the cases of anti-Semitism and intolerance of Jews in Ukraine, publishes analytical materials and reports on the level of anti-Semitism in Ukraine. Also, preparation of applications, requests and complaints to the public authorities and preparation of petitions along with legal support in anti-Semitic issues are within UJCU’s competence.
The report is written in Russian and English languages because the Jewish community of Ukraine is Russian-speaking. English version of the report enables the international community to make themself familiar with the anti-Semitism situation in Ukraine.
In 2019, the United Jewish Community of Ukraine made a decision to place greater focus on monitoring, defining and countering the direct cases of anti-Semitism (the definition of which is provided in p. 1.1) and conduction of comparative analysis, arranged by years, of the direct cases of anti-Semitism only. In the report “Anti-Semitism in Ukraine - 2018” 107 cases of anti- Semitism were mentioned, 90 of which have relation to the direct anti-Semitism, that is why the analysis of the dynamics will be conducted in the universum of the direct anti-Semitism. UJCU continues to detect all indirect cases of anti-Semitism and deals with them by the letter of the law. However, they will not be included in the report.
Active cooperation with law-enforcement and other public authorities has become the main UJCU’s achievement in monitoring and control of anti-Semitism in Ukraine in 2019. UJCU was regularly cooperating with law-enforcement and local self-government bodies regarding the majority of anti-Semitic incidents. This is one of the reasons, why a set of anti-Semitic incidents, described to publicity, has been unverified.
The UJCU’s legal department made requests and petitions for the majority of which the authorities, mentioned above, gave a response. The United Jewish Community considers the activity of the regional National police department and city councils
positive: law- enforcement agencies did not sabotage the cooperation process and were providing all the necessary information. General National Kyiv Police Department created a negative impression about their work and professional competence. We draw attention of the society, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor General’s office to the sabotage from the GNPD in Kyiv and encourage to conduct an official investigation and bring to disciplinary responsibility for neglect of duty those who sabotaged the process.
Also, the UJCU applied to the Department for International Cooperation and European Integration of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine to make a request about providing information about cases of anti-Semitism in 2019 according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ data. The Department was supplying necessary information numerous times. UJCU appreciates the work and expresses its gratitude to the Department for International Cooperation and European Integration of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine uses the unique materials to monitor anti-Semitism. UJCU consists of 140 European communities and organizations, which are in a stable contact
with the UJCU’s Department of communication. “910” is a number of the Jewish helpline, which is the only one in Ukraine. Everyone can call it in order to report on anti-Semitic incident. Generally, in 2019, UJCU call center, processed ~ 38000 calls, it shows the efficiency of the device. Besides that, a unique Jewish informational space, which consists of more than 500000 people, is a powerful source of information. Eco-system of UJCU helps the citizens of Ukraine be aware of the fact that UJCU carries out a one and only comprehensive monitoring, defining and control of of anti-Semitism in Ukraine. The UJCU crew conducts a functional monitoring of anti-Semitism in the informational space.
It is worth mentioning that, during the monitoring anti-Semitism, the UJCU crew faced a considerable amount of unverified information (especially in social networks) related to anti-Semitism in Ukraine. Legal department carries out a fact-checking and tries to understand, if the incidents are real (sending requests to MIA and the National Police) or this is a misinformation.
This way, the United Jewish Сommunity of Ukraine has all the materials and tools, needed to carry out the monitoring, defining and fact-checking of incidents of anti-Semitism in Ukraine, these instruments give the UJCU a possibility to create as non-biased report “Anti-Semitism in Ukraine - 2019” as possible. It is worth noting that, none of other Jewish organizations has the access to such instruments. Efficient infrastructure gave the UJCU a possibility to propel Ukraine to the number of countries that are world leaders in monitoring, defining and control of anti-Semitism.
It is worth noting that, UJCU monitors the cases of of anti-Semitism within the budget for the statute activity, which consists of charitable contributions, not receiving any grants, consequently, this way, the organization does not accomplish anybody’s mission, political and social requests.
A term «xenophobia» stems from Greek words «xenos» (strange, foreign, foreigner) and «phobos» (fear) and means hate, intolerance or hostility towards someone or something unfamiliar, strange or extraordinary. Also, a term «xenophobia» is used for describing the expression of hostility towards foreigners in particular community/
Moreover, xenophobia can be an attitude, prejudice and behavior that disclaims, eliminates and often gives a bad name for people. Such behavior is based on the opinion that these people are foreigners and they are not a part of particular community or nation. Anti- Semitism is one of the forms of xenophobia.
UJCU considers that there is no official definition of anti-Semitism, which could include all the aspects and variants of display of the form of national intolerance. A definition of anti-Semitism, provided by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), is one of those we use. The definition was approved by the international community, in 2017, it was approved by the European Parliament.
According to the description, provided by IHRA, anti-Semitism is a defined perception of Jews that is demonstrated in hostility towards them. Oral and physical demonstration of anti-Semitism addressed to the Jews and non-Jews and/or against their property, against Jewish communities and organizations, religious institutions.
One more definition of the European Forum on Antisemitism used by us:
- — appeal, defense or participation in killing Jews or causing any damage in the name of ideological radicalism or extreme religious views;
- — expressing of false, cruel, giving bad name or stereotyped accusations of Jews, in particular, or of Jewish shared power - most notably, a Jewish conspiracy theory or Jews who control the media, economics, government etc;
- — charging the Jews and demanding responsibility for real or fake actions of certain Jewish individuals or groups, or for something committed by non-Jews;
- — denying the facts, extent, devices and intentions of genocide of the Jewish people - the Holocaust, committed by national socialist Germany and its associates during the World War II;
- — accusation made against Jewish people and Israel of falsification and exaggeration of the extent of Holocaust;
- — accusation made against Jewish people of preferential loyalty in favor of Israel or in greater interest towards values of Jews in the World rather than towards the values of own country.
Besides that, the UJCU considers other illegal actions against Jews as anti-Semitism: contravention of legal equality of the citizens depending on the nationality, race and religious beliefs (article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine); calling to genocide (extermination) of Jews (article 442 of the CC of Ukraine); hooliganism and vandalism— dishonoring of Jewish graves and memorials (articles 296 and 297 of the CC of Ukraine) usage of Nazi and anti-Jew symbols on Jewish cemeteries, religious institutions (article 436-1 of the CC of Ukraine).
At this point of time, in the world, there are several scores of international acts that directly deal with xenophobia and discrimination, and defend human rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 and is ratified by Ukraine.
The Constitution of Ukraine is the fundamental law of Ukraine, in which all the basis of the citizens’ rights equality is defined regardless the race or religion.
In spite of that, Ukrainian legislation is incomplete, considering anti-Semitism and the issue of the defense of certain national minorities’ rights. Ukraine is a multicultural state, still, in Ukrainian legislation, there are no certain definition of the terms «xenophobia», «anti-Semitism» and even «Holocaust», also, there are not any suitable laws that could really defend the national minorities against xenophobia demonstration.
UJCU has already started the work in that area: we will strive for the adoption of the terms «Holocaust», «Anti-Semitism» at the state level, in particular, we will strive to support the national minorities in the legal fight against xenophobia demonstration and in introduction of the criminal responsibility for such behavior.
Despite the absence of certain laws dealing with anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Ukrainian legislation, some of the normative acts include certain issues of prohibition or opposition to demonstration of anti-Semitism.
The Criminal Code of Ukraine includes several articles that are applied in cases of of anti-Semitic behavior.
The article 161 of the CC is about violation of citizens’ equality based on their race, nationality or religious preferences, disabilities or other factors and defines it as willful actions inciting national, racial or religious enmity and hatred, humiliation of national honor and dignity, or the insult of citizens' feelings in respect to their religious convictions, also any direct or indirect restriction of rights, or granting direct or indirect privileges to citizens based on race, color of skin, political, religious and other convictions, sex, disability, ethnic and social origin, property status, place of residence, linguistic or other characteristics.
Article 442 provides a definition to genocide and characterizes it as willfully committed act for the purpose of total or partial destruction of any national, ethnic, racial, or religious group by extermination of member of any such group or inflicting grave bodily injuries on them, creation of life conditions aimed at total or partial physical destruction of the group. Public calls to genocide, and making any materials with calls to genocide for the purpose of distribution, or distribution of such materials.
Article 296 — hooliganism In the article of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, serious disturbance of the public order based on motives of explicit disrespect to community (or its particular group), in a most outrageous or exceptionally cynical manner is described.
Article 297 is about violation of graves, misappropriation of a corpse (remains, ashes), violation of common graves and memorials of those who fought against Nazism and was persecuted by Nazi regime and others.
Also, these two articles are used regarding lawbreakers who violate and loot Jewish graves and memorials, violate Jewish gravestones, symbols, use or draw swastica in Jewish places and cause damage to the Jews in particular or to their property.
The problem of anti-Semitism in Ukraine is investigated not only by the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, but also by international organizations, such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) represented by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Anti- Defamation League (ADL).
According to the UJCU’s report “Anti-Semitism in Ukraine - 2018”, last year, 107 cases of anti-Semitism were fixed, 90 of which related to the direct anti-Semitism.
Coincidently, the Ministry of of Diaspora Affairs prepared a report on anti-Semitism in 2018. The report was presented by the Minister of Diaspora Affairs Naftali Bennett (Israel), where Ukraine was also mentioned. A special attention was drawn to the fact that there is a «significant reduction in the number of acts of vandalism in Ukraine». Information about the number of incidents noticeably differs from the data gathered by the UJCU and presented in the report “Anti-Semitism in Ukraine - 2018”. The United Jewish Community of Ukraine was making efforts to contact Naftali Bennett, Israel institutions, having the relation to the report via different communication channels, but over the year, the contact was not established. UJCU expresses its concern about incomplete data in the report, presented by Naftali Bennett and is hopeful that there will not be such a mistake in the report for 2019. Otherwise, the UJCU encourages not to take the data in the mentioned report on Ukraine seriously.
The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, in their report «The overview of Hate Crime for 2018 in Ukraine» detected 237 crimes in Ukraine, 42 of which were identified as anti-Semitism. In addition, it is worth noting that 70% of anti-Semiticincidents, described in the OSCE’s report were presented on the base of UJCU’s report on anti-Semitism in Ukraine for 2018.
According to ADL’s data (Anti-Defamation League), index of anti-Semitism in Ukraine in 2019 is 46%. Data, provided by ADL, has become a subject of speculation in the Ukrainian media and among experts, who do not see the difference between the index and the level of anti-Semitism. Counted by the ADL, index of anti-Semitism is based on the poll among Ukrainians about Jews. First of all, the results of the provocative public opinion poll cannot display the real condition of the situation in fact, and state the level of anti-Semitism in Ukraine, that is why ADL’s index does not correlate with the level of anti-Semitism in Ukraine.
Also, Eduard Dolinsky, on his Facebook page, actively gives enlightening on the indirect cases of anti-Semitism in Ukraine. Primary information about several cases of anti-Semitism, described in the report, was also provided by Eduard Dolinsky.
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine notes that the cases of speculations about anti-Semitism in Ukraine have become more frequent. Then, the public and media widely announce only rare cases, for example, incident with the monument of Sholem Aleichem in Kyiv, when vandals covered it with sauwasticas. The UJCU emphasizes that every case of anti-Semitism is equivalent and there cannot be a «more anti-Semitic» or «less anti-Semitic» incident considering the general issue of anti-Semitism in Ukraine.
Considering the authorities, several actions can be defined as negative facts, but not as demonstration of anti-Semitism. In 2019 such events can be considered as negative: reinstatement in duty of consul - anti-semite Vasyl Marushchynets, also, the visit of Oleksiy Honcharuk, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, to the concert of the group «Sokyra Peruna», who support the far rightists, and whose views and lyrics are anti-Semitic and xenophobic. One more incident that cannot be marked as anti-Semitic — Verkhovna Rada’s adoption of the resolution to сelebrate memorable days and anniversaries in 2020. This is a proposal to celebrate in honor of those who, according to historical facts, were supporters of the Nazi regime in Ukraine during the World War II. These incidents were taken negatively by Jewish community of Ukraine and the World.
In 2019, the United Jewish Сommunity of Ukraine, conducting a systematic monitoring, detected 66 cases of direct anti-Semitism. Additionally, in 2019, circumstances when anti-Semitic incidents needed a detailed fact-checking have become more frequent. Numerous checks, which were carried out by the UJCU legal department and the department of communications, demonstrated that many of the anti-Semitic incidents published in media and social networks appeared to be false.
The number of incidents of anti-Semitism in 2018, defined by UJCU in the graphic, is introduced with help of methodology, applied by us in 2019 in order to make the comparison of the growth index objective. The reason is that in 2019, as in was mentioned above, the UJCU concentrated on fixation direct anti-Semitism.
January 6. Ukrainian journalist Roman Revedzhuk on air of the television channel «Priamyi» expressed himself in anti-Semitic manner: «Once I wrote an article «What is the difference between a Jew and a yid?»... There cannot be a Jew worse than own Ukrainian yid...». 30 January, the journalist was claiming that he was not an anti-semite on air of the same channel. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
January 7. Drohobych, Lviv region. In Drohobych (Lviv region) strangers showered the local synagogue with stones. The attack resulted in broken windows in the building, although, there was not any signs of vandals around the synagogue.
Actions of UJCU: on this occasion, the United Jewish Сommunity of Ukraine sent a request to GDNP in Lviv region.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Lviv region: for 20/11/2019, during the pre-trial investigation, it was defined that the event has the signs of petty hooliganism: a slight damage of any property based on hooligan motives. 21/02/2019, based on the rules of Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, the investigator made a decision to close the criminal proceeding. Criminal proceeding materials, according to the norms of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, were sent to the local Drohobych Procecuror’s Office in Lviv region in order to check the legality and validity of the decision.
January 20. Uman, Cherkasy region. There was a meeting, addressed to the incident that happened before: vandals damaged a gypsum crucifixion. The anti-Semitic expressions were on the meeting. The leader of meeting stated: «Yids, talking as it is, dishonor our religion and country. They do not consider us hosts here. That is why we have to show, that if they do not stick to the rules, we will act in more cruel way». On the same meeting the chief of «National brigades» of Uman Yevhen Ustymovych said: «A complicated situation with these yids has arisen. They think, they can buy land, faith and hope for their dollars. But it won’t happen. We will strive for ours, and these yid degenerates, who dishonored Jesus Christ, they must be responsible for their actions. They dishonored our faith and our liberty. They are illness in our city and the illness must be treated. If this is a gangrene, it has to be cut and forgotten. I ask you to support us during that time. There will be a court trial of these yids.»
(The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: a request to GDNP in Cherkasy region was sent.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Cherkasy region: there is an investigation, conducted on the matter and investigative actions are taken, consequently, a person involved in crime was detected. Also, the draft message to the person about suspicion has already been prepared. Moreover, 7 February 2019 GDNP has received the materials about social network discovery. There was an inciting of hatred on the meeting mentioned above. Pre-trial investigation is being carried out.
January 29. Cherkasy. Unknown wrote an anti-Jewish text on the billboard with Yuliia Tymoshenko. The inscription read: «Stop Jewish fascism».
Actions of UJCU: a request to GDNP in Cherkasy region was sent.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Cherkasy region: a criminal proceeding into the fact was not opened, because the relevant report on the law offence was not provided to the GDNP in Cherkasy region. Cherkasy office of the GNPD’ officers are ordered to make an inspection. If the signs of crime are detected during the inspection, investigative arm will submit all the materials to the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations. The Police carries out an outreach to prevent the manifestations of anti-Semitism in non-formal groupings.
January 30. A candidate for presidency of Ukraine, a deputy of the «Republican party» Rostyslav Novozhenets (Lviv) expressed his concern that Jews and Russians hold almost all of the state positions in Ukraine: «In high places, for instance, at the Presidential Administration almost exclusively Russians and Jews hold senior positions. The head of ACU and the president Petro Poroshenko are Jews, also the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Volodymyr Hroisman.[...] Russian domination is noticed at the command duties of AFU and SSU, and it is happening during the war with Russia [...] That is why, my election campaign slogan is «Ukraine — for Ukrainians!». If I am chosen as as a president, only ethnic Ukrainians will be appointed for senior positions!».
Actions of UJCU: the UJCU sent a request to GNPD in Lviv region for the information stating that any actions towards Rostyslav Novozhenets were taken in order to prevent such expressions in future.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Lviv region: for 31/12/2019, there was not any response to the UJCU request.
February 10. Kharkiv. During the public polls, conducted by portal «Kharkov 1654», about the upcoming elections of the president of Ukraine, one of the respondents stated: «Not a yid — it is crucial!». The poll was filmed. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: the UJCU sent a request to the GDNP in Kharkiv region for providing the information, whether the identity of the person who disrespected the Jews was established, and whether the criminal procedure was opened.
Reaction of the General Department of the the National Police in Kharkiv region: for 15/11/2019, GDNP Investigation department in Kharkiv region is reported that, according to URPI’s data and the data of the Integrated information retrieval system of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine, there is no legal proceeding opened on this case in GNPD subdivisions in Kharkiv region.
February 11. Bucha, Kyiv region. The victim Arkadiy B. in kippah, intervened on behalf of the Armenians who were harassed by a group of young people. Having warned them that he would call the police, Arkadii heard a response: «You are a yid. Go to Israel. Our dad burned not enough of you in stoves». The police squad did not react to the anti-Semitic incident. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: a request to GDNP in Kyiv region was sent.
Reaction of the General Department of the the National Police in Kyiv region: for 13/11/2019, according to the data of the Irpin PD GNPD in Kyiv region, the appeal on the conflict situation that happened 11/02/2019 was registered. According to the results of the trip to the scene, the police found that the conflict had been settled and the parties had no complaints against each other, after which it was decided to write off the verification materials from the information retrieval subsystem of the National Police of Ukraine by electronic report.
February 13. Kolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk region. On the Jewish cemetery, vandals draw the pictograms representing a man throwing the Star of David to the bin. The pictogram was drawn on the «Memorial wall» made of 200-year-old matzo. It was reported by Kolomyia Jewish religious community of Jewish Orthodox confession, which is a part of UJCU.
Actions of UJCU: the UJCU contacted the community of Kolomyia and found that the pictograms were painted out with efforts of the community.
February 13. Khmelnytskyi. An inhabitant of Khmelnytskyi, Dina P. reported that an alcohol-addicted neighbor living on the floor above, wanted to fight and was calling her a «yid». Other neighbor plucked her cherry tree and said that «Hitler haven’t killed the yids till the end, but he would». (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
February 14. Kyiv. Servant of the Аrmed forces of Ukraine Vadym M. has become a victim of anti-Semitic offence. He claimed that they refuse to treat him at civil hospital and called him a «little yid», «cunning Jew», «Jewish spy». (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
February 15. Kyiv. On the bus stop «Akademmistechko», there was an inscription on the payment terminal: «Ukraine for the Slavs, for Malans — Babyn Yar».
Actions of UJCU: the UJCU sent a request to GDNP in Kyiv region in order to know, whether the criminal investigation of the incident was opened.
Reaction of the General Department of the the National Police in Kyiv region: for 15/11/2019, GNPD in Kyiv forwarded the request to the Kyiv GNPD’s deputy chief officer — chief of the investigation department, colonel of the Police Oleksandr Pyvovar. For 31/12/2019, there was not any response from the GDNP to the UJCU’s request.
February 15. Kyiv. Gennady Berezovskyi, editor in cheaf of «Ukrainskyi volonter», wrote: «All the pro-kremlin yids must be on cemetery» on his Facebook page. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
February 28. Lutsk. Lutsk inhabitant Ludmyla Z. complained to Valeryi Sushkevych, president’s commissioner for the rights of people with disabilities, about Jews. She wrote: «Lutsk Jews — yids are bullying me and my family. These «kikes» are animals in their nature and not only break the law for their own profit, but deprive of well-being of non-Jewish people. They are worse than Nazis [...] I will stop the Yiddish genocide even if I need to commit a self-immolation for that.»
Reaction of the General Department of the the National Police in Volyn region: for 11/04/2019, GDNP in Volyn region has started a pre-trial investigation, as, according to the inspection results of the Ukrainian Research Institute of Special Engineeringand Forensics of the Security Service of Ukraine, the author has a negative ethnic prejudice, counting the fact that, the despotism and professional negligence of people, mentioned in the text, has a relation to Jewish nation. The author uses offensive, disapproving, derogatory, negative judgements, provides ethnic characteristics, which offend, abuse and humiliate the national dignity of Jewish people.
March 16. Boguslav, Kyiv region. Vandals broke a memorial on the Jewish cemetery, at Stadionna street.
Actions of UJCU: UJCU sent a request about the incident to GNPD.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kyiv region: for 31/12/2019, there was not any response to the UJCU request.
March 18. Cherkasy. The Jewish Сommunity of Cherkasy reported that, on the roller-type shutters of the window on the Haharin 75 st., graffiti with offensive accusations of Jews had appeared. The inscription read: «Genocide of Ukrainians by Jews».
Actions of UJCU: the UJCU sent a request to the GDNP in Cherkasy region.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Cherkasy region: for 19/11/2019, there were not any requests to the GNPD in Cherkasy region, an inspection is being conducted. it resulted in the necessity to interrogate the owner of the office place, where the graffiti had appeared, The owner was not in Cherkasy at the moment of the enquiry. Legally, GNPD in Cherkasy region invoked their right to extend the period of the investigation of the UJCU’s request and informed about that in written form.
March 20. By the Ministry of Internal Affairs, UJCU was informed that the citizen S. who is a founder and the leader of unregistered political party «Formation «Slavic front», religious organization «Religious formation of Ukrainians chosen by God (not yids)» and the of the similarly named web-site, posted the materials content of which is determined to humiliate the national reputation and dignity of the Jewish community in Ukraine because of their religious convictions and ethnic origin. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: GNPD responded to the UJCU’s request about the state of investigation of the incident mentioned above. GNPD in Kyiv region informed that the request was forwarded to the authorized information manager. For 31/12/2019, the UJCU has not received any extra information about the investigation.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kyiv: for 11/11/2019, it is reported that Pechersk GNPD has started a pre-trial investigation of the case mentioned above.
March 24-25. Bohorodchany, Ivano-Frankivsk region. At night, 24-25 of March, vandals painted sauwasticas on the walls of Bohorodchany military commissariat. The lawbreaker — 48 old inhabitant, who has previous convictions, was arrested 26 march.
Actions of UJCU: the UJCU sent a request to the GDNP in Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Ivano-Frankivsk region: for 18/11/2019, Bohorodchany department of Nadvirna GDNP was conducting a criminal investigation, it has already been completed and the indictment was sent to the Bohorodchany local court. Also, from the open sources, a Unified State Register of Court Decisions, in particular, was found that, 4 July 2019, Bohorodchany local court in Ivano-Frankivsk region declared a sentence, according to which, the person suspected of committing a crime, mentioned above, painted sauwasticas on the face of several administration buildings, as a result, the court sentenced the suspect to two years in prison, as long as he had previous convictions.
March 26. Lviv region. Citizen M. acted in a way characterized as inciting of the national or religious enmity and includes the signs of humiliation of national dignity, offence of the Jews’ religious feelings.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Lviv region: 26.03.2019 Chervonohrad GDNP in Lviv region received the materials of the SSU department in Lviv region about the citizen M’s activity. 26/03/2019 these records were included in URPI and the pre-trial investigation was opened.
April 4. Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region. Citizen Yu. reported that he was offended by a man he knows who calls him a «polish yid». (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
April 24. Lviv. Vandals painted swasticas on the ruins of the Golden rose synagogue in Lviv. Also, an inscription «14/88», interpreted as Nazi greeting, was found.
Actions of UJCU: the UJCU sent a request to GNPD in Lviv region.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Lviv region: for 20/11/2019, having examined the request, GDNP in Lviv region forwarded it to the Galych GDNP in order to register the report in the Data system of the National Police of Ukraine. For 31/12/2019, there was not any response to UJCU about the current state of the situation.
May 19. Kyiv. Volodymyr C. has become a victim of anti-Semitic insultings, going through the Andriyivskyy Descent in Kyiv, where the he asked for the price of a souvenir cap. A salesman shouted, in anti-Semitic abusive manner, to Volodymyr C., who had not bought anything: «Go and chow down matzah» ect.
May 21. Poltava. Unknown vandals - anti-semists defiled the monument to Jewish victims of Nazi regime, the monument is situated in the park of «Sorrowful mother». Vandals wrote «Death for yids», put the SS symbols, and painted out the inscriptions on the Jewish memorial. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: the UJCU sent a request to the GDNP in Poltava region.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Poltava region: for 18/11/2019, GDNP in Poltava region carries out a pre-trial investigation, dated 21 May 2019, of the crime of the deliberate damage of the monument. While the pre-trial investigation is being conducted, all the needed investigative actions, determined to identifying of the circumstances of the crime and identifying the suspect, are being taken.
May 21. Kherson. Unknown painted anti-Semitic graffiti on the construction fence at Ushakova, 50 st, the inscription read: «No to yids». (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
May 27. Kyiv. Central synagogue of Kyiv, also famous as Brodsky synagogue, received an email with a message from «Motorola terrorist» that the bomb was planted at the synagogue. In the message was written: «There is a handmade clock bomb planted in the building. You have 24 hours for deactivation. One more bomb is planted in the car parked nearby. Search for them!». The visitors of the synagogue were evacuated, the sappers searched the area and did not find anything.
Actions of UJCU: a request for providing the information about the investigation of anti-Semitic incident was sent to the GDNP in Kyiv region.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kyiv region: it was reported that the request was forwarded to the GNPD in Kyiv. For 31/12/2019, there was not any response to the UJCU request.
June 26. Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region. Evhen Z. made a request to the UJCU informing that he is undergoing anti-Semitic offence. According to his statement, his acquaintance calls him a «yid». Affected man wrote a statement to the police and now is expecting for the court trial. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: a complainant rejected the suggestion of the UJCU’s legal department to help him. For 31/12/2019, the complainant did not ask the UJCU for help.
July 7. Sumy. The inhabitant of Sumy was spreading anti-Semitic views on his Facebook page.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Sumy region: 02.07.2019 GDNP in Sumy region started a pre-trial investigation, dated 21 May 2019, of the crime of spreading the anti-Semitic views by Sumy inhabitant on his Facebook page.
July 10. Lviv. Unknown person made an inscription with black paint — swastica and the word «yid» on the billboard with the political campaign advertisement of the party «Formation «Samopomich» at Mechnikov st. In the same time, the unknown wrote «yid» on the banner with Andriy Moskalenko, «Samopomich» candidate. The banner was situated at one of the Lviv fences. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Lviv region: the data about the incident has been included in the URPI. For 30/09/2019, criminal investigation is closed due to the p.2 p. 1 of article 284 of CPC of Ukraine.
July 15. Kyiv. Kyiv Central synagogue (Brodsky synagogue) received a threatening email: «There is a handmade mercury bomb, planted in your filthy Yiddish synagogue, to poison you like bugs! Find it or die!». The policemen searched the synagogue, no bomb was found.
Actions of UJCU: a request for providing the information about the investigation of anti-Semitic incident was sent to the GDNP in Kyiv region.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kyiv region: for 31/12/2019, there was not any response from the GDNP in Kyiv region to the UJCU about the current state of the events.
July 20. Trostianets, Vinnytsia region. The chief executive of «Trostianets alcohol factory» in Trostianets of Vinnytsia region Bohdan Bileychuk made an anti-Semitic statement, which was filmed: «going to yiddish...Jewish, roughly speaking…». After this phrase, people laugh (off screen). He said this phrase regarding the Jewish cemetery near Trostianets, defiled by the alcohol factory wastes dumped there.
Actions of UJCU: a statement was sent to the GDNP in the Vinnitsa region.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Vinnitsia region: there was no response to the statement.
July 27. Kryvyi Rih. An unknown man threw stones at the Beis Stern Shulman synagogue in Kryvyi Rih (Dnipro region) and thus damaged the windows of the synagogue. Furthermore, stones wrapped in a sheet of A4 paper with printed threats to the Jewish Community were found in the lobby of the synagogue.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Dnipro region: In connection with these events July 27, 2019, a pre-trial investigation was launched in the Kryvyi Rih GDNP of the Dnipro region. As of September 30, 2019, the criminal offence was closed on the basis of Clause 2, Part 1, Art. 284 Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine.
July 22. Dnipro. A resident of Dnipro city, Yuri V. said that his grandson (name was not provided) was bullied by his neighbor based on nationality.
July 29. Chernihiv. Leaflets with the title “Liberation of Ukraine from Jewish control” were found in the mailboxes of the Chernihiv inhabitants.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Chernihiv region: 29.07.2019 Chernihiv GDNP of the Chernihiv city launched a pre-trial investigation into the distribution of printed materials the content of which was aimed at inciting ethnic hatred in the Chernihiv city.
August 21. Mykolaiv region. In the Mykolaiv region vandals have desecrated a monument installed on a Jewish mass grave on the border of the Vradiyevsky and Krivoozersky districts with swastikas.
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Mykolaiv region with a request to provide information on whether a criminal case was opened on the fact of this crime.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Mykolaiv region: as of November 20, 2019 Vradievsky GDNP of the Mykolaiv region have launched a pre-trial investigation. It is also indicated that operational search measures are ongoing, but as the people involved in the crime have not been identified, the pre-trial investigation continues.
August 24. Cherkasy. The owner of the funeral services store called “Monuments” was involved in the commission of a criminal offense. In particular, at the entrance to the designated building there were inscriptions like “Jews*3”, “discounts for Jews” and “90% off for Waltzman”.
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Cherkasy region to obtain some information about this fact.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Cherkasy region: as of November 29, 2019 the Cherkasy GDNP in the Cherkasy region, an investigation is underway of criminal proceedings on the grounds of a criminal offence related to violation of the equality of citizens depending on their race or ethnicity or religious beliefs. During the pre-trial investigation, a complex of investigative (search) actions was performed. At the moment, the investigation continues. A forensic linguistic examination is also conducted. Supervision of compliance with laws during the pre-trial investigation in the form of a procedural guide is executed by the Cherkasy local prosecutor's office.
August 28. Beregovo, Zakarpattia region. Citizen K. had been spreading insulting theses about Ukraine on his Facebook and made openly anti-Semitic statements, which caused tension among the population.
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Zakarpattia region for the information on the progress of the investigation.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Zakarpattia region: as of November 27, 2019 Beregovo GDNP of the Zakarpattia region launched a pre-trial investigation. At the moment, the investigation is ongoing. Necessary (investigative) actions to establish all the circumstances of the offense are being performed. The state of the pre-trial investigation in the particular criminal proceeding has been undertaken by the head of Zakarpattia region GDNP.
August 30. Lviv. An anti-Semitic inscription was found on the wall of one of the shops on the “Knyazhij” market on Vladimir Veliky Street, 59c, which read: “Yids, get out of Ukraine.” (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Lviv region with a request to provide information on the Lviv police is aware of the crime committed and whether criminal proceedings have been opened due to this fact. Moreover, people wanted to know what stage the investigation of this anti-Semitic crime is at.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Lviv region: as of December 31, 2019, there was no response from the GDNP in the Lviv region’s UJCU.
September 5. Kyiv. A resident of Kyiv turned to UJCU with a message that in the capital, not far from the National Center of Alexander Dovzhenko (Vasilkovskaya St., 1), a huge anti-Semitic inscription was found on the fence, which confined the construction site near the underground train exits, which read: " The sun mixes runes. Death, not land, to all Yids." (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Kyiv region with a request to provide information whether a criminal case was opened on the fact of this crime.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kyiv region: as of December 31, 2019, no response was received.
September 13. Vinnitsa. The head of the Jewish religious community of Vinnitsa Igor Bargo was subjected to anti-Semitic insults by a policeman. The head of the community became nauseous during a night trip, and he parked at the side of the road. When the patrolman approached, Igor Bargo, being in a pile, explained the situation, to which he received an answer from the policeman: "That's why I hate you Jews." Igor Bargo wrote a statement to the police.
Actions of UJCU: many attempts have been aimed towards the contacting the Head of the Jewish religious community of Vinnitsa Igor Bargo. However, the rabbi of the community, Shaul Horowitz, in a telephone conversation confirmed the incident with the participation of the patrol police.
September 15. Bogdanivka, Mykolaiv region. Vandals desecrated a monument, which had been erected at the site of the execution of 54 thousand Jews. Vandals outlined the monument with swastikas and left a message mentioning the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky. The message read: «Gek-ko Ber-Kher-kut, Zelik 95th, Taxi driver Chervonchik, Yuedik Dolinsky and other visiting riflemen: Mendelssohn, Schneerson, Abra-Rabinovich and Koganatsman. Wake up, Jews! Stop! Otherwise, the sale of Ukrainian land will quickly lead you to the Holocaust number 2! From the Ukrainian People: Peter from Tsyurupinsk and the brothers Bogdan and Zinovy from Vradiyevka.»
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Mykolaiv region to obtain some public information about the stage of the criminal proceedings on the desecration of the monument mentioned.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Mykolaiv region: in connection to these events September 16, 2019 investigation department of Domanovsky PD Vradiyevsky PD of the Mykolaiv region GDNP began pre-trial investigation.
September 16. Golovanivsk, Kirovograd region. Unknown vandals defaced the memorial complex, which was installed in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. The vandals left the same message which mentioned the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, as in the case that occurred in Bogdanivka, Mykolaiv region. In addition to the fact that the vandals desecrated the memorial complex with swastikas, they wrote the following: “H*ll, not the land to Yids.” The inscriptions were applied using spray paint. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the in the Kirovograd region about obtaining public information concerning the stage the stage of criminal proceedings.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kirovograd region: as of November 11, 2019 investigation department of Golovanivsk GDNP of the Kirovograd region began a pre-trial investigation based on all the facts given. As of December 6, 2019, it is known from open sources that, in criminal proceedings № 12019120130000411, the Investigating Judge of the Leninsky District Court of Kirovograd, Andrei Vitalievich Zagreba, granted the request of the senior investigator of the SC CPR GDNP in the Kirovograd region I. Deikun on the extension of the period of pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings № 12019120130000411 of September 16, 2019 on suspicion of committing crimes under Part 1 of Art. 161, part 3, article 297 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, up to four months, that is, until February 3, 2020.
September 25. Dnipro. A resident of the Dnipro, Jeanette P., was subjected to anti-Semitic insults on national grounds from neighbors with whom the woman had a land conflict.
September 30. Novomirhorodskyi district, Kirovohrad region. Two inscriptions were found on the pillar of the “Novomirhorodsky district”: on the front side the lettering reads: "Death to the mangy Yids," and on the back: "Kill the Jew." It is important to note, that the inscription was discovered at the time of the celebration of Rosh Hashanah 5780 (Jewish New Year). (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP of the Kirovograd region about receiving the public information about the stage of pre-trial investigation based of the mentioned event.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kirovograd region: it is reported that a pre-trial investigation was launched on 01.10.2019 in a separate criminal proceeding on the case in the Novomyrhorod PD Maloviskovsky PD of GDNP in the Kirovograd Region.
October 10. Zaporizhia. Irina N., a resident of Zaporizhia, turned to the Jewish hotline with a statement that the father of her ex-husband had hit the applicant and called her “Jewish brat”.
October 11. Uman, Cherkasy region. Unknown vandals painted a portrait of Adolf Hitler on a concrete fence, which also had the inscription: "Reputation is easy to lose, but hard to earn." According to the Israeli ambassador in Ukraine, the inscription was placed on the fence, which is located near the grave of tzadik Rabbi Nakhman.
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Cherkasy region to obtain some public information about the stage of the criminal proceedings on the case.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Cherkasy region: as of November 29, 2019 the investigation departmentof Uman PD of GDNP in the Cherkasy region, an investigation is underway of criminal proceedings on the grounds of a criminal offence related to violation of the article on the manufacture and distribution of Nazi symbols. During the pre-trial investigation, a complex of investigative (search) actions was conducted according to the results of which the person involved in the commission of the crime in the specified case was found. Supervision of compliance with laws during the pre-trial investigation in the form of a procedural guide is executed by the Cherkasy local Prosecutor's office. The investigation is ongoing, the issue of bringing to justice the person who committed
the crime is being determined.
October 14. Dnipro. A resident of Dnipro posted a video message on the Internet where he repeatedly mentioned the Jewish community of Dnipro, the international religious movement Chabad Lubavich, in the context of his business conflict, insulted Jews as a community, Judaism in general, and Hasidism as a current in Judaism. His statements were aimed at provoking hatred in the Chernihiv city. Notably, the video was published on the first day of the Jewish celebration of Sukkot on 15 Tishrei (October 14). The video was removed from YouTube due to the rules violation of the video hosting regarding discriminatory statements. The Jewish community of Dnipro contacted the police to write a statement.
The actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Dnirpo region to receive public information concerning whether the criminal proceedings were opened, at what stage it is and whether the attackers were detained.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Dnipro region: as of December 31, 2019, UJCU did not receive a response.
October 10. Kyiv. On the steps of the Central Synagogue of Kyiv, also known as the Brodsky Synagogue, unknown men threw a red-painted scarecrow with a photograph of the President of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine Ihor Valeriyovych Kolomoisky.
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Kyiv region regarding obtaining public information concerning the stage the stage of criminal proceedings.
Reaction of the Main Directorate Of the National Police in the Kyiv region: as of December 31, 2019, UJCU did not receive a response.
October 17. Yavoriv, Lviv region. On the territory of the Sand Mountain, vandals scratched a monument to the victims of the Holocaust, stole chains from the fence and ruined the steps to the memorial. Furthermore, vandals regularly organized picnics on the territory of the Sand Mountain, mentioned.
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Lviv region regarding the provision of public information about whether criminal proceedings have been opened and at what stage the investigation is at. An enquiry was also sent to the Yavoriv City Council regarding whether any action was taken to rectify the situation.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in the Lviv region: as of December 31, 2019, UJCU did not receive a response.
Reaction of the Yavoriv city council of the Lviv region: as of December 31, 2019, UJCU did not receive a response.
October 2019. Kyiv. Vandals have written an anti-Semitic inscription “Das ist Jude! Slay the Yids” on an advertising city-light on Cosmonauts Square on a poster for Mikhail Zhvanetsky concert. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the city of Kyiv to receive public information about whether the police are aware of the crime, whether criminal proceedings are open and at what stage they are.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in city of Kyiv: as of December 31, 2019 no information from law enforcementwas provided for UJCU.
October 2019. Facebook user B. distributes videos and images that incite ethnic hatred and hostility towards Jews.
Actions of UJCU: a request was sent to Rubezhanskoye GDNP in the Luhansk region.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in the Luhansk region: a pre-trial investigation has been launched under Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
November 11. Vasil Kovalchuk, a human rights activist from Poltava, posted an anti-Semitic post on his Facebook page in which he mentioned the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky. Vasil Kovalchuk wrote the following: “In the morning, as before, the sun sparked, Corvette “ Emperor ”froze like an arrow… Jewish Zelensky, maybe we'll come back - Why do we, Jewess, need a strange earth". In addition, Vasily Kovalchuk wrote that the authorities in Ukraine "are a bunch of Yids and not wise Jews." (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the of Poltava region on the fact of this incident.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Poltava region: as of December 5, 2019, the head of the GDNP in the Poltava region reported that no complaints had been received on the matter and criminal proceedingswere not registered by the subordinate investigative units of the GDNP. It is also reported that the request from the UJCU to the GDNP in the Poltava region was registered in the specialized archives and in accordance with the requirements of the special maintaining procedure, which unified allegations and reports of criminal offenses and other events record in the police bodies, which was sent to the Poltava GDNP for registration, conducting an objective audit and making decisions in accordance with applicable law.
November 19. On the air of Channel 5, in the 334th issue of the "Bottom Group" program, a video was shown dedicated to the President of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine Igor Valerievich Kolomoisky. An anti-Semitic statement was made in thevideo: “Growth is competition — azohen wei; who gets the low-cost, and he — Holocaust!”.
Actions of UJCU: an application for a criminal offense was sent to the GDNP in the Kyiv region with a request to open criminal proceedings on the fact of this crime. In addition, UJCU sent a statement to the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Committee of Ukraine with a request to bring Channel 5 to responsibility for this offense.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kyiv region: as of December 31, 2019, there was no answer to the statement.
Reaction of the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine: as of December 31, 2019, there was no answer to the statement.
November 21. Facebook user Borys Drozdov posted on his page an anti-Semitic post about the Jewish community of the Dnipro and its leader, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky: "Dnepropetrovsk Jewish Religious Community (DJRK) — was created in independent Ukraine by the rabbi Kaminetsky who had came from the USA — the representative of the Judeo-fascistic sect Chabad Lubavitch." Boris Drozdov also commented on his own publication: “Chabad Lubavitch is an odious trend in orthodox Judaism. Greed, hypocrisy, deceit, sycophancy before the oligarchs and those in power, rudeness towards ordinary parishioners are the main features of Rabbi Kaminetsky, his loyalists and puppets."
Actions of UJCU: a statement was sent to the GDNP in the Dnipro region with a request to open criminal proceedings in connection with a violation of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Dnipro region: as of December 31, 2019, there was no answer to the statement.
November 22. Dnipro. A resident of the Dnipro Eugene G. said that he was insulted, humiliated and bullied by his neighbor. After the conflict, the neighbor broke glass and headlights in the applicant’s car, who wrote an unanswered statement to the police. After that, the word “yid” appeared on the applicant’s truck. Contacting the police did not have any results and the applicant had to go to the regional department personally and involve the police in the investigation. In addition, the applicant claims that the neighbor threatens him through telephone conversations and correspondence. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry for public information has been sent to the GDNP in the Dnipropetrovsk region regarding whether criminal proceedings have been opened in accordance with the laws of Ukraine and at what stage the investigation is at.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Dnipro region: as of December 16, 2019, the GDNP of Soborny district in the Dnipro region reports that a profilactic conversation was held with citizen N. aimed at preventing the commission of any criminal or administrative offenses against the applicant in whose interests the UJCU appealed to law enforcement authorities. Also, regarding the citizen N., an administrative protocol was framed under Art. 173 (petty hooliganism) which was sent to the Zhovtnevy district court of the city of Dnipro for further consideration in accordance with applicable and decision-making in accordance with applicable law. Citizen Eugene G. was provided with an answer.
November 23. Vyacheslav Velychko posted a post on his Facebook page, where he accused the Jews of organizing the Holodomor in Ukraine and signed the publication: “Mendels have returned.”
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the in the city of Kyiv to receive public public information about how the investigation is proceeding and whether criminal proceedings have been opened.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kyiv: as of December 31, 2019, there was no answer to the statement.
November 21. Dnipro. A requiem rally on the Day of Commemoration of the Holodomor Victims was attended by a man who unfurled an anti-Semitic poster. The following was written on the poster along with the Star of David drawn: “Zionism is the organizer of the Holodomor in Ukraine”.
Actions of UJCU: a statement was sent to the GDNP in the Dnipro region on the commission of a criminal offense with the requirement to open criminal proceedings on the fact of this anti-Semitic crime.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Dnipro region: As of December 31, 2019, there was no answer to the statement.
November 25. Kyiv. Vandals tagged a monument of the Jewish writer Sholom Aleichem, which is located opposite to the Central Synagogue of Kyiv, with swastikas.
Actions of UJCU: a statement was sent to the GDNP in the Kyiv region demanding the criminal proceedings to be opened under articles 161 (deliberate actions aimed at inciting ethnic, racial or religious hatred) and 436-1 (propaganda of Nazi symbols). Criminal Procedure of Ukraine. Also, UJCU requested to notify them about further proceedings.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kyiv region: as of December 12, 2019, a pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings on the grounds of a criminal offense under Part 3 was launched in the Pechersky GDNP in Kyiv. Art. 161 CC of
Ukraine.
November 25. Melitopol, Zaporizhia region. Vandals used ь atzevah from the old Jewish cemetery as picnic chairs. On one of the tombstones, the Jewish surname Livshits was indicated.
Actions of UJCU: an enquiry was sent to the GDNP in the Zaporizhia region to obtain some public information about whether police are aware of the crime and whether criminal proceedings were opened on the fact of the crime.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Zaporizhia region: as of December 31, 2019, there was no response.
December 6. Kyiv. Near the train station, an attack was conducted on a group of activists who distributed campaign materials in support of the blogger and politician Anatoly Shariy. The activist group included a man, Dmitry G. who was identified by the attackers as a
Jew. In addition to being attacked as a member of a group supporting Shariy, the attackers shouted anti-Semitic insults towards Dmitry G., calling him the "filthy Yid” and other anti-Semitic insults, and also sprayed several times from a gas spray at him. The man was wearing a black coat and hat, which looked like a Jewish headdress (kneich). Dmitry also studies the Torah, seeks to accept the giyur, and says that he is a Jew to people who do not know the subtleties of Jewish life. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: a statement was sent to the GDNP in Kyiv about the criminal offense and demanded to open criminal proceedings based on the violation of Article 161 (deliberate actions aimed at inciting ethnic, racial or religious hatred) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and take all necessary actions in order to find the attackers of Dmitry G.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kyiv: as of December 31, 2019, there was no response.
December 12. Dnipro. Igor K., was subjected to anti-Semitic insults through the telephone conversation with a neighbor with whom the applicant had a conflict over the functioning of the ACAB: “Maybe you are a terrorist from Israel”, “If you talk to me like that once more, you wouldn't be able to f*cking walk with your sore. And you will go there, where your f*cking Moses holded your hand for 70 years. I promise you that. I promise you that I will put Pavlik against you ”; “And who the f*ck are you, that you try to demand something?.. You are a f*cking Israeli citizen. So get the f*ck off to your Israel”; “I will complain about you to everyone in the police. I don't f*cking know what you are trying to achieve here, you piece of sh*t”; "You f*cking Jew. F*ck you." In addition, the neighbor insulted the applicant in every possible way, using obscene language and she also stated “that they went to the synagogue and there they were told to kill this f*ggot and do not pay attention ”. Also at that time, near the entrance to the applicant’s apartment, an unknown people scribbled an image of a swastika on the wall.
Actions of UJCU: assistance was provided to the applicant in compiling a statement to law enforcement authorities.
December 13. On the channel “The Dark Knight” in Telegram, the full version of the interview with the Babel online edition from the author of the channel is published. In the interview, “The Dark Knight” called the deputy of the “Servant of the People” faction Alexander Dubinsky “cunning kike”. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
December 18. Kharkiv. An advertisement for the sale of drugs using stereotypes about Jews was found on Druzhba Avenue. The ad depicted a Jew with a Hasidic hat and side curls, and the inscription was "Bargaining is always appropriate."
Actions of UJCU: a petition was filed to the GDNP in the Kharkiv region about a crime committed with a demand to open criminal proceedings. A petition was also sent to the Kharkiv City Council with a request to remove this and other similar anti-Semitic ads in the city.
Reaction of the of the General Department of the National Police in the Kharkiv region: as of December 31, 2019, there was no response.
Reaction of the Kharkiv City Council: as of december 31, 2019, there was no response.
December 21. Vodafone’s spokeswoman in Ukraine, Victoria Pavlovskaya, deployed a post on her Facebook in which she called the Jews “Yids.” The post was deleted. (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: there was a statement filed to the GDNP of Kyiv on the offense with the requirement to open criminal proceedings based on the violation of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. A petition was also sent to Vodafone in Ukraine demanding the spokesperson to be brought to disciplinary responsibility for anti-Semitic statements on the social network.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Kyiv: as of December 31, 2019, there was no response.
Reaction of Vodafone company: as of December 31, 2019, there was no response.
December 22. Kherson. On a five-story building on the street. Mira, 15 from the side of the courtyard the inscription was found "The results of the election, the Yids left, the little Yids came." (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
December 24. Rivne. At the entrance to the synagogue, a swastika painted by unknown vandals was discovered. The Nazi symbol was painted on the ad near the entrance to the building. The swastika was covered with the efforts of the Religious City Jewish community led by Rabbi Schneur Schneerson, who also owns the synagogue.
Actions of UJCU: a petition was submitted to the GDNP of the Rivne region for a criminal offense with the requirement to open a criminal proceeding on the fact of an anti-Semitic crime.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in Rivne region: as of December 31, 2019, there was no response.
December 27. The CEO of UJCU Michael Tkach received anti-Semitic threats from Facebook user Vladimir Semak. A threatening message was sent to his personal page. Text of the threat: “Yid. This is normal. Read Gogol. Or you, a yid brat, have something against Gogol? No? Didn't think so. So sit quietly and don't ever open your stinky Yid mouth. Remember. You are a yankel. stinking trembling yankel ..." (The words «yid» and «kike» are not used in the literary Ukrainian language and are offensive to Jews in Ukraine.)
Actions of UJCU: a petition was submitted to the Dniproregion with a requirement to open a criminal proceedings based on the violation of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Reaction of the General Department of the National Police in the Dnipro region: as of December 31, 2019, there was no response.
December 30. Kharkiv. A resident of one of the student dormitories at Karazin University found that unidentified people stole his Torah, stained his pile with toothpaste and hung it on a nail, and also left anti-Semitic inscriptions on the walls of the dormitory room. Offenders drew a swastika, the Stars of David in circles and the words "Ave Satan."
Actions of UJCU: assistance was provided to the applicant in compiling a statement to the police.
In 2019, the United Jewish Community of Ukraine notes a decrease in the level of anti-Semitism in the country. Overall, the level of anti-Semitism in Ukraine, according to the UJCU methodology, have decreased by 27% compared to the previous year.
We associate the decrease in the level of anti-Semitism with the change of power. Therefore the intensity of the heroization of those who participated in the extermination of Jews and those involved in Jewish pogroms in Ukraine decreased.
In addition, in 2019 a smaller number of anti-Semitic statements from the Ukrainian representatives was recorded.
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine also notes that although the level of domestic anti-Semitism has decreased, the number of anti-Semitic vandalistic acts has increased: there are more desecration of Jewish monuments and mass graves, and also there are more anti-Semitic inscriptions in public places.
There is also an increase in government interest on the issue of anti-Semitism in Ukraine - law enforcement agencies, with the exception of some cases, respond more quickly to manifestations of anti-Semitism.
To view the report of the UJCU «Anti-Semitism in Ukraine — 2018», please click on the link:
The Report on anti-Semitism in Ukraine — 2018
You can find out more about what the United Jewish Community of Ukraine is doing by clicking on the link.
UJCU recalls that if you become a victim or witness of a case of anti-Semitism (graffiti, insults, physical violence), then contact the Jewish Hotline «910» at 910 (free from mobile) and 0 800 600 910 (free from landline).
