ABOVE: John Kerry calls accusations of anti-semitism by pro-Russian militias “grotesque”
Updated to include comments from the National Conference Supporting Jews addressing if the leaflets are “fake”
Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine have been accused of demanding Jewish citizens register their identity.
Leaflets were reportedly handed out in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, demanding that all Jews, 16 years of age and older, declare their identity and property with a separatist group that wants to join Russia.
The report first appeared on the website YNet, which said the Russian-language leaflets were distributed on Monday, the evening before the Jewish holiday of Passover, near the Donetsk synagogue.
They warned failure to register would lead to the seizure of property, revoked citizenship or possible deportation.
According to YNet, the paper was signed by Denis Pushilin, the self-declared leader of the pro-Russian “Donetsk People’s Republic.”
“Dear Ukraine citizens of Jewish nationality… due to the fact that the leaders of the Jewish community of Ukraine supported Bendery Junta (referring to Soviet-era Ukrainian nationalist leader Stephan Bendera) and oppose the pro-Slavic People’s Republic of Donetsk, (the interim government) has decided that all citizens of Jewish descent, over 16 years of age and residing within the republic’s territory are required to report to the Commissioner for Nationalities in the Donetsk Regional Administration building and register,” a translation of the document on YNet read.
The flier, according to YNet’s translation, also indicated Jews would need to provide their passport and other identification and pay a $50 fee to register, along with documents confirming their religion and that of their family members, proof of real estate ownership and proof of other assets, including vehicle.
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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday condemned the reports.
“In the year 2014, after all of the miles traveled and all of the journey of history, this is not just intolerable, it’s grotesque. It is beyond unacceptable,” CBS reported Kerry saying.
Kerry said tensions between Russia and the West eased somewhat on Thursday after hours of negotiations between U.S., Russia, Ukrainian and European Union leaders.
Leaflets from unknown source, but not “fake”
Questions were raised about the veracity of the flier Thursday afternoon.
The website The Daily Dot published a story declaring the leaflets were “fake” and cited a deputy director from the National Conference Supporting Jews – a U.S. based advocacy organization that works on behalf of Jewish people in Russia, Ukraine and the Baltic States.
That’s not entirely the case, said NCSJ Executive Director Mark Levin.
He said the leaflet was very much real, but it’s not known who it came from.
“What happened was real,” he said. “This was distributed. We don’t know by whom and we don’t know what their intentions are.”
He confirmed local officials have denied any connection to the flier and insisted Jewish citizens have no requirement to register their identity and religion. Levin said no one in the organization spoke directly with Dontesk People’s Republic leader Pushilin.
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Regardless, Levin said it’s a “vile” provocation.
“Whoever did this, if their intention was to get attention and cause a stir, they succeeded,” he said in a phone interview from Washington D.C. on Thursday.
“It brings back the worst memories one can imagine,” he said.
He referenced the actions of the Nazis after they conquered a country and ordered Jews to register.
While there have been repeated references to the Nazis throughout the crisis – from both pro-Ukrainian government and pro-Russian groups – Levin said the Jewish population of Ukraine is just trying to go about life and haven’t reported “a clear pattern of anti-Semetic behaviour.”
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“The [Jewish] communities throughout Ukraine, the last thing they want is to become a scapegoat for either side, let alone to become a pawn in what’s happening,” he said.
“They’re trying to lead as normal a life as possible, yet they keep getting dragged in in ways they never thought they would be.”
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