NEW YORK (EJP)—The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned the appearance of anti-Semitic fliers in Donetsk, Ukraine, and called on all parties involved in the political conflicts in Ukraine to refrain from “cynical and politically manipulative” exploitation of anti-Semitism.
According to Ukrainian media reports, three armed and masked men handed out fliers the evening of April 15 on the first night of Passover on the letterhead of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.
The fliers instructed Jews to register with the government or face deportation and confiscation of their property.
The leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic, whose name appeared in the document’s signature, has publicly disavowed the flier.
“We are skeptical about the flier’s authenticity, but the instructions clearly recall the Nazi era and have the effect of intimidating the local Jewish community,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.
“We have seen a series of cynical and politically manipulative uses and accusations of anti-Semitism in Ukraine over the past year,” said Mr. Foxman. “The perpetrators and their targets are opposing politicians and political movements, but the true victims are the Jewish communities. We strongly condemn the anti-Semitic content, but also all attempts to use anti-Semitism for political purposes,’’ he added.