“No place for antisemitism” says Ukraine foreign minister after vandalism of Kyiv menorah
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister has condemned the antisemitic vandalism of a menorah in Kyiv, saying that there was “no place for antisemitism” in Ukraine.
The apparent perpetrator, Andrey Rachkov, videoed himself pushing over the giant menorah on the first night of Chanukah and posted the video on social media, declaring that it was “how you need to handle strangers engaged in the usurpation of power, occupation of territories, genocide.”
He allegedly attempted to topple another outdoor menorah but was unable to do so. He has been charged with hooliganism and could face up to five years in prison.
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine said that it considered Mr Rachkov’s “actions and statements to be antisemitism” and called on law enforcement agencies to “investigate objectively”.
On Twitter, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that he condemned “in the strongest terms” the “brutal” attack on the menorah and welcomed the “swift reaction by law enforcement agencies” in identifying the perpetrator. He added: “No place for antisemitism in Ukraine.”
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