Ukraine Gov't Condemns MAUP - 01.25.2006

Ukraine Government Calls for Action Against Anti-Semitism

Release Date: January 25, 2006

Contact:

Mark Levin  (202-989-2500)

NCSJ applauds the positive steps taken by the Ukrainian government to address anti-Semitism. This Tuesday, ministries of the Ukrainian government publicly condemned the anti-Semitic activities of the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management (MAUP), the largest non-state university in Ukraine, and pledged to pursue legal action against it.

On national television, Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk called MAUP’s actions “unlawful,” and proclaimed that “there is no place for any form of anti-Semitism or xenophobia in Ukraine.” At the same time, in a press release, the Ministry of Education cited MAUP for its pursuit of activities inconsistent with higher education, and asked Ukrainian law enforcement bodies to analyze the extent to which MAUP's actions can be sanctioned under Ukrainian law.

The government’s statements are in response to MAUP’s continued support of anti-Semitism and xenophobia. NCSJ has been in close consultation with the government in recent months, following MAUP statements supporting the President of Iran’s denial of the Holocaust and appeal for Israel’s destruction. According to the Ukrainian Jewish organization Va’ad, MAUP is responsible for much of the anti-Jewish publications disseminated in the Ukraine.

NCSJ Executive Director Mark Levin welcomed the Ukrainian government’s moves. “It’s definitely an important step in the right direction,” Levin said, “and we hope that a full investigation by the appropriate ministries and law enforcement agencies will put a stop to MAUP’s hatred.”

NCSJ: Advocates on behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia, is the mandated central coordinating agency of the organized Jewish community for policy and activities on behalf of the estimated 1.5 million Jews in the former Soviet Union, including over 500,000 Jews in Ukraine.


Read JTA story
Read ForUm story

Read "Our Ukraine" political party statement 
Read Ukraine embassy press release
Read ADL press release

---

Jewish Telegraphic Agency- 01.26.2006

Ukrainian officials blast university 


(JTA) - Ukrainian government officials condemned the anti-Semitic activities of the country’s largest private university. 

On Monday, Boris Tarasyuk, Ukraine’s foreign minister condemned on national TV the activities at the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management, or MAUP. 

“I think that all positive forces in Ukraine must evaluate the activities of MAUP. There is no place for anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Ukraine,” Tarasyuk said on air. In a news release, Ukraine’s Ministry of Education asked Ukrainian law enforcement bodies to analyze the extent to which the academy’s actions can be prosecuted or punished. North American Jewish leaders praised the actions. 

The academy has been responsible for a slew of anti-Semitic publications, and university officials recently released a statement asking the United Nations to shut down the State of Israel. 

“It’s definitely an important step in the right direction,” said Mark Levin, the executive director of NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia, “and we hope that a full investigation by the appropriate ministries and law enforcement agencies will put a stop to MAUP’s hatred.”



return to top

---

Embassy of Ukraine - 01.24.2006

Foreign Minister Tarasyuk: MAUP activities unlawful

On January 23d speaking on national television Foreign Minister of Ukraine Borys Tarasyuk strongly condemned the anti-Semitic actions of MAUP University in Ukraine. He confirmed that "having exhausted all efforts to convince MAUP leaders to drop their unlawful and wrongful actions" he broke off contacts with University a year ago. According to Tarasyuk, "there is no place for any form of anti-Semitism or xenophobia in Ukraine".

At the same time the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine issued a press-release accusing MAUP of breaking Ukrainian law. In particular it pointed out persistent incompliance with requirements of state licensing rules for universities, failure to abide with legally binding decisions of the State Accreditation Commission etc. The press-release qualifies it as "a general negligence of law and a desire to pursue activities inconsistent with the status of Higher Education Institute in Ukraine". The Ministry addresses the issue to the Ukrainian law enforcement bodies with request to analyze to what extend the actions of MAUP comply with Ukrainian law.

return to top

---

Anti-Defamation League- 01.25.2006

ADL WELCOMES UKRAINE’S STRONG CONDEMNATION OF UNIVERSITY FOMENTING ANTI-SEMITISM

Contact: Myrna Shinbaum 212-885-7747

New York, NY, January 25, 2006  -- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed the statements and actions of the Ukrainian government to condemn anti-Semitism, and specifically one of the country’s leading institutions of higher education, which ADL has called a hotbed for anti-Semitic incitement. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister and the Ministry of Education and Science publicly condemned MAUP University’s anti-Semitic activities and called for “anti-incitement laws to be effectively enforced.”

In a letter to Borys Tarasiuk, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director welcomed his “strong statement condemning the anti-Semitic actions of MAUP University as unlawful and wrongful and proclaiming that ‘there is no place for any form of anti-Semitism and xenophobia in the Ukraine.’”

The League leaders also welcomed the statement of the Ministry of Education and Science accusing MAUP of breaking Ukrainian law by persistent incompliance with requirements of state licensing rules for universities and failure to abide with legally binding procedures of the State Accreditation Commission.

“We hope the Ukrainian government will continue to condemn such anti-Semitic activities and ensure anti-incitement laws will be effectively enforced,” Ms. Balser and Mr. Foxman said. 

A university with 50,000 students, MAUP has made statements supporting the President of Iran’s denial of the Holocaust and appeal for Israel’s destruction and is a bastion of anti-Jewish propaganda and incitement in the Ukraine.


return to top