Russian Justice Ministry designates exiled Chief Rabbi of Russia as “foreign agent”
The Russian Government has declared one of the country’s Chief Rabbis as a “foreign agent” after he criticised Russia’s war on Ukraine and spoke of his fears of rising antisemitism.
Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, who is in self-imposed exile from Russia, was designated in a statement by the Russian Justice Ministry as a “foreign agent” for allegedly disseminating “false information about the decisions taken by public authorities” and for opposing Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Rabbi Goldschmidt said that “This is the first time since the beginning of the war that a religious leader has been declared a foreign agent and described by the Russian Government as a hostile threat.” He added, ominously, that “It is very likely that this will mean the start of a new antisemitic campaign against the Jewish community in Russia,” while insisting that he was proud to be on “the right side of history.”
The designation is tantamount to being labelled a spy or a traitor. It has been applied to journalists, human rights organisations, public figures and politicians since the war began.
Rabbi Goldschmidt left Moscow in March 2022 and resigned from his position, which he held for 30 years, a few months later, after allegedly resisting pressure on religious leaders to support and “sanctify” the war. He now lives in Israel.
He has previously spoken out about his concerns about the potential for a wave of antisemitism in Russia, and is part of a large migration of Jews from Russia, with over 40,000 immigrating to Israel alone since the war began.
Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.