Asman and Korchynsky have dismissed the claim of ‘Nazi salutes’ in Kyiv
This is evident from a statement made by the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Asman, on Facebook.
Moshe Asman said that, following the Israeli Embassy’s statement, he had refrained from jumping to conclusions and had met with the leader of the ‘Brotherhood’, Dmytro Korchynskyi.
The discussion centred on a video that had been circulating on social media and which, according to the Israeli Embassy, was allegedly filmed during a protest in central Kyiv on 21 June.
In this video, the embassy claimed, participants in the rally were chanting Nazi slogans and making Nazi gestures.
Asman stated that this video had no connection to the rally in question and had been filmed much earlier. According to him, the people in the footage, based on the available information, are not members of ‘Brotherhood’ or any other Ukrainian patriotic organisations.
The Chief Rabbi suggested that these were underage provocateurs who may have been used by the Russian security services.
What Korchynskyi said
Dmytro Korchynskyi, in the video released by Asman, also rejected accusations of anti-Semitism and of the ‘Brotherhood’ being involved in Nazi salutes.
According to Asman, Korchynskyi emphasised that he holds the Jewish people and the State of Israel in high regard.
The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine also stated that members of the ‘Brotherhood’ are Ukrainian patriots who respect different nations, religions and faiths.
The Israeli Embassy’s response
At the time of publication, the Israeli Embassy in Ukraine had not commented on Asman’s statement.
Asman himself said that he had already spoken to the Israeli Ambassador, Mikhail Brodsky, and explained his position to him.
According to the Chief Rabbi, the embassy staff may have been misled.
He also called on law enforcement agencies to track down the people who appeared in the video, and stressed that it was important not to allow provocations to drive a wedge between Ukraine, Israel and the Jewish community.
Background
Last week, the Israeli Embassy stated that on 21 June, a rally organised by the ‘Brotherhood’ group took place in central Kyiv, during which participants allegedly shouted Nazi slogans and performed the Nazi salute.
The embassy expressed concern at the time and stated that such a rally desecrates the memory of millions of victims of Nazism.
On the same day, the tenth ‘KyivPride’ march took place in central Kyiv, bringing together members of the Ukrainian LGBT community. At the same time, opponents of ‘KyivPride’ held a counter-demonstration.
Kyiv police reported on 21 June that they had maintained law and order during the mass events in the capital. According to the police, the events took place without any serious breaches of public order.
The incident became a sensitive issue not only because of allegations of the use of Nazi symbols.
It also touched on Ukraine’s relations with Israel and the Jewish community, and therefore any statements regarding this matter require particular accuracy.
There are currently two public positions: the Israeli embassy has expressed concern over the alleged Nazi salutes, whilst Moshe Asman, following a meeting with Korchynskyi, dismissed any link between the video and the ‘Brotherhood’ or the event on 21 June.
Follow us on Telegram
