Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Azman has defended Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov labeled a “pure Nazi” and a “traitor to the Jewish people,”. The Chief Rabbi stressed that there is no ethnic conflict in Ukraine, and that anti-Semitism is a criminal offense.
“I’d like to say that the Ukrainian people are fighting for their independence and freedom today. You invaded and started a war, killing Ukrainians — not only Ukrainians, but citizens of Ukraine of different nationalities: Russians, Jews, Tatars and others, who had lived here in peace, freedom and dignity before your invasion. There is no interethnic conflict in Ukraine … But I don’t need to prove anything to you. Look at yourself, review your actions and understand that Nazism today is embodied in those who are trying to destroy entire peoples,” the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel quotes his statement as saying.
He noted that modern-day Nazis are those who want to wipe out other states, such as Israel. Iran and Hamas, which are supported by Russia, seek to destroy the latter.
“You welcome delegations from Hamas and Hezbollah, refuse to recognize them as terrorist organizations, and even provide them with weapons with which they kill Jewish soldiers in Israel. Therefore, your statements about Nazism are not only immoral — they are complete manipulation,” Moshe Azman pointed out.
He also added that only the Jewish people can decide who is a hero and who is a disgrace to their nation.
“It is not for you to decide. You can make your own judgment in your country, but we, the Jewish people, will decide for ourselves,” the Chief Rabbi emphasized.
Asman recalled that the Russians killed his adopted son Anton and took thousands of innocent lives with their invasion of Ukraine, and he would pray for a “just verdict” for their actions.
