Hooligans attack Kyiv's Central Synagogue; law enforcement officials take swift action (04/21/02)

Hooligans attack Kyiv's Central Synagogue; law enforcement officials take swift action

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - A marauding gang of hooligans attacked the Central Synagogue of Kyiv on April 13 after a soccer match at a nearby soccer stadium had just let out. The gang threw stones and broke windows, injuring several children.

The violence was part of a vandalism spree by some 50 drunken teenagers and young adults through the central streets of Kyiv. State militia arrested 200 soccer fans in a sweep of the area immediately after the attack before releasing all but four of them. By April 16 eight individuals had been arrested and more were being sought.

While law enforcement officials said the incident was an isolated case of vandalism, Jewish leaders in Kyiv and the synagogue's chief rabbi voiced concern that it was a deliberate anti-Semitic attack against the Jewish community.

"We cannot agree that this was an unplanned, spontaneous act," said Vadim Rabinovich, chairman of the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress during a press conference held on April 15. "Witnesses have told us the group was organized and came with bottles and rocks," he added.

Mr. Rabinovich noted, however, that the act was the first attack on the Central Synagogue or any other notable Jewish landmark in the nearly 11 years since Ukraine declared independence. The wealthy businessman also emphasized that neither organized nor extensive anti-Semitism is evident in Ukraine today.

Law enforcement officials and Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs attempted to downplay conjecture that the vandalism was a planned effort and called the matter an unfortunate incident involving immature kids who got out of control.

"I have no grounds thus far to state that this was a manifestation of anti-Semitism," explained Oleksander Zarubytskyi, the head of the public relations department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on April 15, according to Interfax-Ukraine. "I have more reason to believe that it was gross hooliganism. At that age individuals are very stupid. I think the notion of anti-Semitism runs much deeper."

The incident began after a soccer match between Kyiv Dynamo and Metallurh Donetsk let out at Olympic Stadium, the capital city's main sports venue, located a block from the synagogue.

A group of some 50 persons, mostly teenaged and young adult males began tearing down public phones and breaking windows as they walked the streets of the city center. At the synagogue a portion of the unrestrained crowd, which had broken into two groups by then, began hurling stones and bottles at the building and broke nine windows.

They also threw the objects at children who were just leaving the synagogue after evening prayers. Among those hurt was the chief rabbi's son, who was punched in the face after trying to escort a girl to safety.

Mr. Rabinovich said that reports he had received told a slightly different story. He said that witnesses had called the central synagogue immediately prior to the attack to warn of a group that had gathered on the Khreschatyk, the city's main thoroughfare, which is located in the opposite direction from the stadium, and was moving towards the synagogue chanting anti-Semitic slogans.

Mr. Rabinovich said the crowd of hooligans, who shouted "Heil Hitler" and "Kill Jews," had armed itself with rocks and bottles before it approached the synagogue, which he said was evidence that they had a specific, pre-planned purpose in mind from the outset.

State militia officers arrived on the scene about 20 minutes after the incident had taken place. They arrested a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, and then two 21-year-olds that evening. The eight persons currently detained include the individual law enforcement officials believe initiated the violence and the one who punched the rabbi's son. All are said to have shown remorse over the acts they committed.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anatolii Zlenko undertook political damage control and called Israel's Ambassador to Ukraine Anna Azari the day after the incident to assure her that justice would be served and the guilty would be punished.

Meanwhile, President Leonid Kuchma announced on April 16 that he would keep an eye on the matter and instructed Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Smirnov to take personal control of the investigation.

Mr. Kuchma also ordered Ukraine's intelligence service and law enforcement officials to conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether there are any active anti-Semitic or skinhead organizations in the country, and to take the necessary steps to control their activities.

About 1,500 individuals gathered for a demonstration at the Arch of Friendship of Nations in Kyiv on April 17 to protest the violent acts and express thanks to the Ukrainian government for its quick response.

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