According to a report by the human rights organization Freedom House on hate crimes in Ukraine, since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the number of recorded crimes based on anti-Semitism has decreased markedly.
This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
The report states that in 2022, there were no recorded cases in Ukraine where anti-Semitism was the motive for physical violence. In 2020 and 2021, there were four such cases each year.
At the same time, human rights activists documented one case last year where a domestic dispute that started over parking issues was accompanied by anti-Semitic insults, but the anti-Semitic nature of the incident was not evident due to the context.
The report also mentions a reduction in the number of incidents of vandalism against Jewish infrastructure objects: in 2022, there were 5, while in 2021, there were 14, and in 2020 there were 10.
In 2022, the Verkhovna Rada introduced criminal liability for "manifestations of anti-Semitism," including hostile attitudes towards people of Jewish origin, anti-Semitic propaganda, denial of the Holocaust, and destruction of Jewish buildings, religious structures or monuments. Previously, such crimes were classified as vandalism or hooliganism. Now, a fine of 3,400 to 8,500 hryvnias or imprisonment for up to five years with the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years is imposed for anti-Semitism.