The report describes 52 cases of anti-Semitism in 2021, tells about the work done by the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, and also provides the reaction of law enforcement agencies.
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine says that the level of antisemitism in Ukraine has remained unchanged. Considering that the total number of cases of anti-Semitism in 2021 is slightly higher (+3) compared to 2020, this difference can be considered an error.
The proportion of incidents of violence has decreased, and attacks on synagogues, although there have been, caused much less harm and were not accompanied by physical attacks.
At the same time, a negative trend can be considered an increase in the number of acts of anti-Semitic vandalism, which peaked at the time of the celebration of Hanukkah – then Hanukkah 6 and the memorial in Lisichansk were damaged.
For the first time in years and in two incidents at once, various criminals who brought down Hanukkah in Uzhgorod and Dnipro were sentenced to 1 year of probation under Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The UJCU welcomes the adoption of the Law “On Preventing and Combating Antisemitism in Ukraine” and thanks the author of the Draft Law, People’s Deputy Maxim Buzhansky, as well as all those involved in its adoption.
The next step on the part of the legislative branch of power in the fight against antisemitism should be the final adoption of Draft Law No. 5110, which introduces the phrase “manifestation of antisemitism” into Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which the UJCU expresses hope for.
