Belarusian Jews’ reaction to Lukashenka’s anti-Semitic statement

The Union of Belarusian Jews public associations and communities expressed “confusion and concern” after the “statements conveying negative meaning regarding the lifestyle of the Jewish population of Belarusian and Israeli cities” which were made “at the press-conference held for Russian journalists on October 12 in Minsk.”

In particular, the press-release edited by the Council of the Union on October 24 says: “Our concern was aroused first of all by the fact that the imprudent statement can provoke those infected with anti-Semitism pernicious bacillus to act in an unpredictable manner.” According to the authors of the press-release, “such cases are not uncommon today: vandalism at cemeteries and profanation of mass burial places of Jews and other nationalities occur today, the Russian chauvinistic paper “Russky Vestnik” can be found in every news stall, “works” by writer Eduard Skobelev that insult national dignity of the Jews are spread in the country.”

“The Union of Belarusian Jews public associations and communities is ready to discuss international relations issues with all concerned organizations,” BelaPAN cites the press-release.

At the press-conference held on October 12, Aliaksandar Lukashenka said: “If you have ever been to Babruisk, you must have seen what the town looked like. It was terrible! A real pigpen! And that was mostly a Jewish town. You know how Jews treat the places where they live. Look at Israel.” At the same time Lukashenka remarked that the Jews living abroad “have invested about 60 mln to the Belarusian economy” and invited them to come back.