"New Russia" Threatens To Deny Jews Citizenship - Jews Say They Never Experienced Anti-Semitism Before The Russian Militants Took Over Jews in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, where pro-Russian militants have taken over, are now being told to "register," according to USA Today. The militants advocate a merger with Russia. They are demanding a May 10th referendum be held on joining Russia, which is similar to what happened last month in Crimea. Israel's Ynet News describes registration as a common Nazi tactic. Jews emerging from a synagogue say they were handed leaflets ordering them to provide a list of property they own and pay a registration fee "or else have their citizenship revoked, face deportation and see their assets confiscated." According to USA Today, "The leaflets bore the name of Denis Pushilin, who identified himself as chairman of 'Donetsk's temporary government,'" and were distributed near the Donetsk synagogue and other areas. "The leaflet begins, 'Dear Ukraine citizens of Jewish nationality,' and states all people of Jewish descent over 16 years old must 'register.' "It says the reason is because the leaders of the Jewish community of Ukraine supported Stepan Bandera, the leader of the Ukrainian nationalist movement that fought for independence at the end of World War II, "and oppose the pro-Slavic People's Republic of Donetsk," a name adopted by the militants. "The leaflet then described which documents Jews should provide: 'ID and passport are required to register your Jewish religion, religious documents of family members, as well as documents establishing the rights to all real estate property that belongs to you, including vehicles.' "'Consequences for non-compliance will result in citizenship being revoked "and you will be forced outside the country with a confiscation of property.' A registration fee of $50 would be required, it said. "Olga Resnikova, 32, a Jewish resident of Donetsk, told Ynet she never experienced anti-Semitism in the city until she saw this leaflet." PHOTO: Jews in Ukraine's eastern city of Dnipropetrovsk.
Gregory Hilton