The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine thanked the SBU for apprehending the perpetrator of anti-Semitic threats

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Asman expressed his gratitude to the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police for the prompt arrest of a Kyiv resident who had been spreading anti-Semitic rhetoric for a long time and threatening a religious leader with physical harm. Law enforcement agencies responded to these unlawful actions, which posed a direct threat to the safety of the Jewish community.

In a statement posted on social media, the rabbi emphasized that calls for violence cannot be ignored, even if they are made online. According to Moshe Asman, the line between virtual threats and actual crimes—such as attacks on people or arson attacks on synagogues—can be extremely thin. He noted the importance of a strong state response to such manifestations of hostility, especially during wartime, emphasizing that the law must effectively curb incitement before words turn into violent actions.

The 44-year-old resident of the capital who was detained has already been notified of the charges against him. His actions are classified under Part 2 of Article 129 (death threats motivated by religious intolerance) and Part 1 of Article 161 (violation of citizens’ equal rights) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. For committing these crimes, the suspect faces a sentence of up to five years in prison. In addition to threatening the rabbi, the man is also suspected of insulting and threatening military personnel and law enforcement officers.

As a reminder, we previously reported that Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bill establishing criminal liability for acts of antisemitism in the country.