Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Azman defended Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called a “true Nazi” and a “traitor to the Jewish people”. Azman stressed that there is no ethnic conflict in Ukraine and that anti-Semitism is a criminal offense.
“I want to say that today, the Ukrainian people are fighting for their independence and freedom. You invaded this country and started a war, killing Ukrainians - not only Ukrainians but citizens of Ukraine of different nationalities: Russians, Jews, Tatars and others who 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 yourselves, consider your actions, and realize that Nazism is embodied in those trying to destroy entire nations,” the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel quoted the rabbi as saying on Facebook. This was reported by ZN.ua.
Azman noted that modern Nazis are those who want to wipe out other states, such as Israel, from the face of the earth. Iran and Hamas, supported by Russia, want to destroy the latter.
“You welcome the delegations of Hamas and Hezbollah, refuse to recognize them as terrorist organizations, and even provide them with weapons that they use to kill Jewish soldiers in Israel. That is why your statements about Nazism are not only immoral, they are nothing but a manipulation,” Moshe Azman said.
He also added that only the Jewish people can decide who is a hero and who is a disgrace to their nation.
“This is not for you to decide. You can make your own judgment in your own country, but we, the Jewish people, will decide for ourselves,” the rabbi emphasized.
Azman reminded that the Russians killed his adopted son Anton and took thousands of innocent lives with their invasion of Ukraine, and he will pray for a “just verdict” on their actions.
The day before, Lavrov said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had “turned into a true Nazi” and “a traitor to the Jewish people” in the first six months of his presidency. According to him, Zelensky was “taught by Western neighbors” who “brought him to power.”