Jews Appeal for Protection

The Jewish community of Donetsk has issued a statement protesting against the activities of so-called fighters against “Zionism” and “imperialism,” who have recently become active in Donetsk oblast. Signed by the community’s leader, Mr. Kelerman, the statement has been submitted to the Security Service of Ukraine, regional and municipal police departments, and the regional prosecutor’s office.

It contains an appeal from the Jewish community for urgent measures “against criminals whose provocative leaflets and numerous spray painted slogans are inciting Donetsk residents to persecute ethnic Jews.” The statement comes in response to inflammatory spray painted messages that have appeared in Donetsk, often with the acronym PNP, which stands for the Patriotic National Party. The messages in question are slogans, such as “Kill the Jews,” “Revolution for the Slavs,” “The USA is scum,” etc. The Jewish community believes that these messages carry a threat of future pogroms and bloodshed.

The Jewish community has expressed alarm over this situation and appealed for urgent assistance from the uniformed services. The authors of the appeal point out that in the past similar complaints, with photographic evidence of messages and PNP leaflets, have been submitted to the law enforcement services, but the situation has only gone from bad to worse.