Ukrainian law enforcers pressed criminal charges against a 35-year-old resident of Kyiv region, who desecrated Hanukkah downtown Kyiv. He is facing a fine or an actual prison term.
This is reported by the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.
The man was detained in December last year after a video of him circulated across social media. A resident of Kyiv region captured on camera desecrating a Jewish monument erected for the holiday of Hanukkah. At the same time, the young man accompanied his actions with verbal insults targeting Jews.
As noted by the prosecutor’s office, the linguistic examination confirmed that the defendant’s calls were aimed at inciting national and religious enmity and hatred.
The man was charged with suspicion under part 1 of Art. 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Punishment under this article implies a fine from UAH 3,400 to UAH 8,500 or imprisonment for up to three years.
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish winter holiday. It is celebrated by Jews all over the world. The event is also called the “Feast of Eight Candles” or the “Feast of Lights”, and the main symbol of the holiday is a menorah. The holiday symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
The date is determined by the lunar Jewish calendar and varies from year to year. In 2023, Hanukkah was celebrated from the evening of December 7 to the evening of December 15.
In Kyiv, a Hanukkah menorah is traditionally installed in Independence Square ahead of Hanukkah. The monument is considered the largest in Europe.
