EJP welcomes the adoption of the law which bans anti-Semitism in Ukraine

The legislation defines anti-Semitism as hatred of Jews, calling for or justifying attacks on the minority, making false or hateful statements about Jews, and denying the mass extermination of Jews during the Holocaust.

Damaging buildings, monuments, or religious institutions would also fall under the definition of anti-Semitism.

“The lack of a clear definition of anti-Semitism in Ukrainian legislation does not allow for the proper classification of crimes committed on its basis,” the law’s authors said.

“In practice, this leads to the actual impunity of offenders,” they said.

Under the bill, victims can claim compensation for material and moral damage and violators may face penalties under existing hate-crime laws.

EJP Chairman Vadim Rabinovich commented on the law: “European Jewish Parliament welcomes this decision of the Verkhovna Rada. We hope that the bill will help reduce the level of anti-Semitic sentiments in Ukraine and become the foundation for the construction of a modern democratic society based on the principles of respect for national minorities, solidarity and memory of the lessons of the past.”

“Antisemitism is beyond politics and human understanding, and we must cut this phenomenon at the root”, – the Chairman added.