The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine has distanced himself from the actions of the rabbi of Kyiv in the court case involving Irina Mudra

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Asman sharply criticized Kyiv Rabbi Yonatan Markovich for his attempt to vouch for Irina Mudraya, the former deputy head of the President’s Office. Markovich’s actions in court were described as a purely personal initiative that does not reflect the position of the country’s entire Jewish community, according to RBC-Ukraine.

The incident occurred during a court hearing on August 24, where Yonatan Markovich expressed his willingness to act as a guarantor for Irina Mudra, who is suspected of involvement in corruption schemes. The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine emphasized that using one’s religious status in such high-profile trials constitutes an unacceptable blurring of roles, which negatively affects public perception.

According to Moshe Asman, the Kyiv rabbi’s actions provoked an undesirable wave of antisemitism. At the same time, the head of the Jewish community stressed that the actions of a single clergyman cannot serve as a pretext for attacks on an entire people or for perpetuating stereotypes. He called on religious leaders to refrain from participating in political and legal proceedings that could drag communities into public conflicts.

As a reminder, on August 25, the High Anti-Corruption Court arrested Iryna Mudra, setting bail at 20 million hryvnias in a case related to the laundering of funds for a former energy minister. In turn, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Yonatan Markovich officially expressed his willingness to vouch for Irina Mudraya, who is suspected of corruption offenses. The statement was made during a court hearing at the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine.