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Congress Writes to Putin on Police Search of Moscow Synagogue

Washington - NCSJ today welcomed two Congressional letters to Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing serious concern about the prolonged October 19 search of the Moscow Choral Synagogue by Interior Ministry officials. The Senate letter, sponsored by Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), drew 23 total signatures; Sen. Smith chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs. The House letter, cosponsored by Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Tom Lantos )D-CA), drew 63 signatures; Rep. Lantos co-chairs the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

The Smith letter stressed, “The actions by the Interior Ministry undermine the important progress made by your administration and the Russian Federation in combating anti-Semitism and promoting religious freedom and the rule of law. We urge you to demonstrate your commitment to human rights and religious freedom by taking immediate action to uphold the rights and safety of the Jewish community and to conduct a thorough investigation of the Interior Ministry's actions.”

According to the House letter, the 63 Members of Congress were writing “to voice our deepest concern about what appears to be the intimidation of the Jewish community in Moscow.” Referring to the officials conducting the October 19 search, the letter further noted, “Although they claimed to seek documents regarding the registration of the Moscow Jewish Community, we understand that the agents came from the Interior Ministry's criminal investigations division and attempted to seize financial records.

“Particularly in a week when Members of Congress are preoccupied with last-minute political and policy responsibilities,” noted NCSJ Chairman Denis C. Braham of Houston, “The bipartisan signatures and rapid turnaround of both letters clearly reflects the gravity with which the U.S. Congress views encroachment on the institutions of religious minorities in the Russian Federation.”

NCSJ President Howard E. Sachs of Atlanta said, “We appreciate all 23 Senators and 63 Representatives who represented their colleagues by responding directly to this alarming excess by Russian federal officials. Such violations, a few blocks from the Kremlin, send a harsh warning to supporters of religious freedom, and these timely Congressional letters - sent on the final day of the 106^th Congress, send an unambiguous message straight back to the Russian Government and to the Russian Jewish community.”

Braham and Sachs expressed recognition for the active involvement by Jewish communities and organizations across the United States which encouraged their elected representatives in the Senate and House to join the letters.

According to NCSJ Executive Director Mark B. Levin, “These letters exemplify the uninterrupted engagement of the 106^th Congress which, like its predecessors, continues to promote positive change and cooperation with the Russian Federation and the Soviet successor states. We look forward to working with old and new friends in the 107^th Congress, when it convenes early next year, and to working with Russian officials - from President Putin on down - to foster constructive approaches to religious freedom and pluralistic democracy.”

“We share the Russian Jewish community’s concern and distress about the abrupt intrusion into a central institution of Russian Jewry,” stated Braham. “Throughout the summer, we have expressed concerns about the appearance of government intimidation and interference in community affairs, as have the Administration and Members of Congress.”

According to Sachs, “The Ministry of Interior, which conducted the search, clearly took advantage of the fact that the top community leaders were away on a one-day solidarity mission to Israel and unavailable for immediate response.”

At 10 am on October 19, Interior Ministry officials entered the Moscow Choral Synagogue. Claiming to seek documents regarding the registration of the Moscow Jewish Community, the administrative hierarchy of the Russian Jewish Congress and financial information, the officials searched the premises for six hours and collected financial records and other documents. Alerted to this improper police action, attorneys for the synagogue arrived and stopped the search in progress, as no warrant had been issued. Following lengthy negotiations, the officials - having spent ten hours in the synagogue - agreed to take only documents which are already available on file with the government.

Levin reported, “We have been in contact with Moscow Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt and with Moscow Jewish Community Executive Director Pavel Feldblum, as well as with the Russian Government and the U.S. State Department and National Security Council. Lesley Weiss, NCSJ Director of Community Services and Cultural Affairs, met last week in Moscow with community leadership and with U.S. Embassy officials, and the U.S. Embassy has also been in contact with synagogue officials.”

One of the officials present at last week’s search has called to apologize for the action, but no official government response has been registered.

- # # # -

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October 26, 2000

The Honorable Vladimir V. Putin
President of the Russian Federation
The Kremlin
Moscow
Russia

Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to express our deep concern over recent reports of intimidation of the Jewish community in Moscow.

It is our understanding that Interior Ministry agents entered the Moscow Choral Synagogue on October 19, 2000, without a warrant and conducted a ten-hour search in the offices of the Moscow Jewish Community and the Moscow Chief Rabbi. The agents claimed to seek documents regarding the registration of the Moscow Jewish Community, but we understand that these agents represented the Interior Ministry's criminal investigations division and attempted to seize financial records. This unlawful search occurred on a day when community leaders were attending a conference in Israel.

We are disturbed by the timing and the aggressive and unlawful nature of this action, especially considering the Moscow Jewish Community was not made aware that its registration was in question. It is particularly alarming that this search occurred following the Ministry's recent interference with the private security arrangements of the synagogue, which left the institution and its congregants feeling vulnerable to attack.

The actions by the Interior Ministry undermine the important progress made by your administration and the Russian Federation in combating anti-Semitism and promoting religious freedom and the rule of law. We urge you to demonstrate your commitment to human rights and religious freedom by taking immediate action to uphold the rights and safety of the Jewish community and to conduct a thorough investigation of the Interior Ministry's actions.

We hope you share our deep concern over this matter and look forward to receiving your response.

Sincerely,

Gordon Smith

Wayne Allard
John Ashcroft
Barbara Boxer
Sam Brownback
Michael Crapo
Mike DeWine
Russell Feingold
Peter Fitzgerald
Slade Gorton
Rod Grams
Herb Kohl
Frank Lautenberg
Carl Levin
Trent Lott
Connie Mack
Barbara Mikulski
Charles Robb
Rick Santorum
Charles Schumer
Robert Smith
Arlen Specter
Ron Wyden

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Congress of the United States
Washington, DC 20515

October 27, 2000

The Honorable Vladimir V. Putin
President of the Russian Federation
The Kremlin
Moscow
RUSSIA

Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to voice our deepest concern about what appears to be the intimidation of the Jewish community in Moscow.

On October 19, 2000, Interior Ministry agents entered the Moscow Choral Synagogue without a warrant and proceeded with a ten-hour search in the offices of the Moscow Jewish Community and the Moscow Chief Rabbi on a day when community leaders were out of the city at a conference in Israel.

Although they claimed to seek documents regarding the registration of the Moscow Jewish Community, we understand that the agents came from the Interior Ministry's criminal investigations division and attempted to seize financial records.

The suspicious timing and the aggressive and invasive nature of the search are highly alarming considering the Moscow Jewish Community had no notice or warning that its registration was in question. We are also very concerned that the Ministry has interfered with the private security arrangements of the synagogue over the past few weeks, leaving the institution and its congregants feeling vulnerable to attack.

The Russian Federation has made progress in combating anti-Semitism and promoting religious freedom and the rule of law. We urge you to take immediate action to uphold the rights and safety of the Jewish community and to conduct a thorough investigation of the Interior Ministry's actions.

We appreciate your consideration of our interest in this matter and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

1. Henry A. Waxman
2. Tom Lantos

3. Mark Foley
4. James M. Talent
5. John E. Porter
6. Benjamin L. Cardin
7. Anthony D. Weiner
8. Peter Deutsch
9. Jerrold Nadler
10. Sam Gejdenson
11. Howard L. Berman
12. Steny H. Hoyer
13. Eliot Engel
14. Joseph Crowley
15. Neil Abercrombie
16. Alcee L. Hastings
17. Robert I. Wexler
18. Stephen Horn
19. Christopher Cox
20. Carolyn B. Maloney
21. Michael P. Forbes
22. James P. McGovern
23. Gary L. Ackerman
24. Juanita Millender-McDonald
25. Steven C. LaTourette
26. Rush D. Holt
27. Frank Pallone, Jr.
28. Sander M. Levin
29. Constance A. Morella
30. Janice D. Schakowsky
31. Martin Frost
32. David Minge
33. Edward J. Markey
34. Eni Faleomavaega
35. Michael E. Capuano
36. Joseph M. Hoeffel
37. Shelley Berkley
38. Tim Holden
39. Thomas G. Tancredo
40. James E. Rogan
41. John F. Tierney
42. Joseph R. Pitts
43. Jim Saxton
44. Mark Udall
45. Steven R. Rothman
46. Grace F. Napolitano
47. William Delahunt
48. Stephanie Tubbs Jones
49. Lynn N. Rivers
50. Norman D. Dicks
51. Robert A. Brady
52. Nick Lampson
53. William Clay
54. Dana Rohrabacher
55. Julian C. Dixon
56. Lloyd Doggett
57. Norman Sisisky
58. Nita M. Lowey
59. Debbie Stabenow
60. Sherrod Brown
61. Robert A. Weygand
62. James H. Maloney
63. Patrick J. Kennedy

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TO: Interested Parties

FROM:       Denis C. Braham, Chairman
                Howard E. Sachs, President
                Mark B. Levin, Executive Director

SUBJECT: Police Search of Moscow Choral Synagogue

UPDATE: October 23, 2000

Since we sent our memo last Friday, October 20, we have learned of the following developments concerning the October 19 search of the Moscow Choral Synagogue by Interior Ministry officials. Earlier today, NCSJ again had the opportunity to speak by telephone with Pavel Feldblum, Executive Vice President of the Moscow Jewish Community.

Pavel Feldblum expressed the community’s appreciation for American Jewry’s immediate and effective response, which sent a strong message to Russian officials as well as to Russian Jews, that there is a strong international base of support for their welfare and the future of minority rights in the Russian Federation.

According to Feldblum, the Interior Ministry official who led Thursday’s search telephoned the Moscow Jewish Community’s accountant today, conveying his surprise at the international attention, particularly since the officials’ exhaustive search had yielded no compromising records. It was pointed out to the investigator that last week’s action had been illegal and a violation of the community’s rights.

(As we reported last Friday, the top community leadership was in Israel at the time the synagogue was searched. As part of this solidarity mission, the Russian Jewish delegation had a private meeting in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.)

As Jews worldwide – including in Russia – join together in solidarity with the people of Israel, NCSJ is indicating to Russian officials that this in no way limits our vigilance on behalf of the 500,000 Jews still residing in the Russian Federation.

MEMO: OCTOBER 20

We have learned that yesterday, October 19, Interior Ministry officials entered the Moscow Choral Synagogue, when all the community’s top officials were away on a one-day solidarity mission to Israel. Claiming to seek documents regarding the registration of the Moscow Jewish Community, the administrative hierarchy of the Russian Jewish Congress and financial information, the officials searched the premises for six hours and collected financial records and other documents. Alerted to this improper police action, attorneys for the synagogue arrived and stopped the search in progress, as no warrant had been issued. Following lengthy negotiations, the officials – having spent ten hours in the synagogue – agreed to take only documents which are already available on file with the government.

NCSJ has been in contact with Moscow Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt and with Moscow Jewish Community Executive Director Pavel Feldblum, as well as with the Russian Government and the U.S. State Department and National Security Council. Lesley Weiss, NCSJ Director of Community Services and Cultural Affairs, met today in Moscow with community leadership and with U.S. Embassy officials, and the U.S. Embassy has also been in contact with synagogue officials.

The Moscow Jewish Community and Russian Jewish Congress held a press conference earlier today, stressing the illegality of this “rude violation” and noting that the Interior Ministry took advantage of the fact that the top community leaders were out of town and unavailable for immediate response. One of the officials present at yesterday’s search has called to apologize for the action, but no official government response has been registered.

NCSJ shares the Russian Jewish community’s deep concern and distress about the abrupt intrusion into a central institution of Russian Jewry. Throughout the summer, we have expressed concerns about the appearance of government intimidation and interference in community affairs, as have the Administration and Members of Congress. NCSJ will update you on developments in this case.

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Ha’aretz
October 22, 2000

Russian chief rabbi's
synagogue searched

The Associated Press

MOSCOW - Armed police entered one of Russia's main synagogues on a day when its leadership was away in Israel and tried to seize financial documents without a warrant, Jewish leaders said Friday.

Three officers entered Moscow's Choral Synagogue at 10 A.M. Thursday and continued to look through documents for 10 hours, said Russia's chief rabbi, Adolf Shayevich.

The Orthodox Jewish synagogue is the main base of Shayevich's Congress of Jewish Religious Communities and Organizations. The raid came on a day when Shayevich and other leaders of the Russian Jewish Congress and the Moscow Jewish Community were on a solidarity visit to Israel, leaving only technical staff at the synagogue.

The officers counted the synagogue's cash, scrutinized telephone bills and demanded numbers of people who had spoken with rabbis on the phone, said the vice president of the Moscow Jewish Community, Pavel Feldblum.

Police made photocopies of documents and moved to confiscate the originals, but backed down following protests by a lawyer who was called to intervene.

"I have served at the Moscow synagogue for 30 years, and I had never been so shocked and dismayed before," Shayevich said at a news conference.

The vice president of the Russian Jewish Congress, Alexander Osovtsov, said the incident reminded him of the darkest years of the reign of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

"As far as I know, no such actions have been carried out in Russia since the 1930s," Osovtsov said.

Police officials refused to comment.

The three officers claimed they were looking into donations from media magnate Vladimir Gusinsky to the synagogue and into alleged money-laundering, Jewish officials said.

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	*Synagogue Searched - October 2000* NCSJ Memo (October 20) Ha'aretz article (October 22) NCSJ Follow-up Memo (October 23) Senate Letter to President Putin (October 26) House Letter to President Putin (October 27) Senator Gordon Smith's Statement (October 27) NCSJ Press Release (October 27) B'nai B'rith Press Release (December 4) PRESS RELEASE Release Date: October 27, 2000 Contact: Mark B. Levin Shai Franklin Congress Writes to Putin on Police Search of Moscow Synagogue Washington - NCSJ today welcomed two Congressional letters to Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing serious concern about the prolonged October 19 search of the Moscow Choral Synagogue by Interior Ministry officials. The Senate letter, sponsored by Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), drew 23 total signatures; Sen. Smith chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs. The House letter, cosponsored by Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Tom Lantos )D-CA), drew 63 signatures; Rep. Lantos co-chairs the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. The Smith letter stressed, “The actions by the Interior Ministry undermine the important progress made by your administration and the Russian Federation in combating anti-Semitism and promoting religious freedom and the rule of law. We urge you to demonstrate your commitment to human rights and religious freedom by taking immediate action to uphold the rights and safety of the Jewish community and to conduct a thorough investigation of the Interior Ministry's actions.” According to the House letter, the 63 Members of Congress were writing “to voice our deepest concern about what appears to be the intimidation of the Jewish community in Moscow.” Referring to the officials conducting the October 19 search, the letter further noted, “Although they claimed to seek documents regarding the registration of the Moscow Jewish Community, we understand that the agents came from the Interior Ministry's criminal investigations division and attempted to seize financial records. “Particularly in a week when Members of Congress are preoccupied with last-minute political and policy responsibilities,” noted NCSJ Chairman Denis C. Braham of Houston, “The bipartisan signatures and rapid turnaround of both letters clearly reflects the gravity with which the U.S. Congress views encroachment on the institutions of religious minorities in the Russian Federation.” NCSJ President Howard E. Sachs of Atlanta said, “We appreciate all 23 Senators and 63 Representatives who represented their colleagues by responding directly to this alarming excess by Russian federal officials. Such violations, a few blocks from the Kremlin, send a harsh warning to supporters of religious freedom, and these timely Congressional letters - sent on the final day of the 106^th Congress, send an unambiguous message straight back to the Russian Government and to the Russian Jewish community.” Braham and Sachs expressed recognition for the active involvement by Jewish communities and organizations across the United States which encouraged their elected representatives in the Senate and House to join the letters. According to NCSJ Executive Director Mark B. Levin, “These letters exemplify the uninterrupted engagement of the 106^th Congress which, like its predecessors, continues to promote positive change and cooperation with the Russian Federation and the Soviet successor states. We look forward to working with old and new friends in the 107^th Congress, when it convenes early next year, and to working with Russian officials - from President Putin on down - to foster constructive approaches to religious freedom and pluralistic democracy.” “We share the Russian Jewish community’s concern and distress about the abrupt intrusion into a central institution of Russian Jewry,” stated Braham. “Throughout the summer, we have expressed concerns about the appearance of government intimidation and interference in community affairs, as have the Administration and Members of Congress.” According to Sachs, “The Ministry of Interior, which conducted the search, clearly took advantage of the fact that the top community leaders were away on a one-day solidarity mission to Israel and unavailable for immediate response.” At 10 am on October 19, Interior Ministry officials entered the Moscow Choral Synagogue. Claiming to seek documents regarding the registration of the Moscow Jewish Community, the administrative hierarchy of the Russian Jewish Congress and financial information, the officials searched the premises for six hours and collected financial records and other documents. Alerted to this improper police action, attorneys for the synagogue arrived and stopped the search in progress, as no warrant had been issued. Following lengthy negotiations, the officials - having spent ten hours in the synagogue - agreed to take only documents which are already available on file with the government. Levin reported, “We have been in contact with Moscow Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt and with Moscow Jewish Community Executive Director Pavel Feldblum, as well as with the Russian Government and the U.S. State Department and National Security Council. Lesley Weiss, NCSJ Director of Community Services and Cultural Affairs, met last week in Moscow with community leadership and with U.S. Embassy officials, and the U.S. Embassy has also been in contact with synagogue officials.” One of the officials present at last week’s search has called to apologize for the action, but no official government response has been registered. - # # # - Return to top United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 October 26, 2000 The Honorable Vladimir V. Putin President of the Russian Federation The Kremlin Moscow Russia Dear Mr. President, We are writing to express our deep concern over recent reports of intimidation of the Jewish community in Moscow. It is our understanding that Interior Ministry agents entered the Moscow Choral Synagogue on October 19, 2000, without a warrant and conducted a ten-hour search in the offices of the Moscow Jewish Community and the Moscow Chief Rabbi. The agents claimed to seek documents regarding the registration of the Moscow Jewish Community, but we understand that these agents represented the Interior Ministry's criminal investigations division and attempted to seize financial records. This unlawful search occurred on a day when community leaders were attending a conference in Israel. We are disturbed by the timing and the aggressive and unlawful nature of this action, especially considering the Moscow Jewish Community was not made aware that its registration was in question. It is particularly alarming that this search occurred following the Ministry's recent interference with the private security arrangements of the synagogue, which left the institution and its congregants feeling vulnerable to attack. The actions by the Interior Ministry undermine the important progress made by your administration and the Russian Federation in combating anti-Semitism and promoting religious freedom and the rule of law. We urge you to demonstrate your commitment to human rights and religious freedom by taking immediate action to uphold the rights and safety of the Jewish community and to conduct a thorough investigation of the Interior Ministry's actions. We hope you share our deep concern over this matter and look forward to receiving your response. Sincerely, Gordon Smith Wayne Allard John Ashcroft Barbara Boxer Sam Brownback Michael Crapo Mike DeWine Russell Feingold Peter Fitzgerald Slade Gorton Rod Grams Herb Kohl Frank Lautenberg Carl Levin Trent Lott Connie Mack Barbara Mikulski Charles Robb Rick Santorum Charles Schumer Robert Smith Arlen Specter Ron Wyden Return to top Congress of the United States Washington, DC 20515 October 27, 2000 The Honorable Vladimir V. Putin President of the Russian Federation The Kremlin Moscow RUSSIA Dear Mr. President, We are writing to voice our deepest concern about what appears to be the intimidation of the Jewish community in Moscow. On October 19, 2000, Interior Ministry agents entered the Moscow Choral Synagogue without a warrant and proceeded with a ten-hour search in the offices of the Moscow Jewish Community and the Moscow Chief Rabbi on a day when community leaders were out of the city at a conference in Israel. Although they claimed to seek documents regarding the registration of the Moscow Jewish Community, we understand that the agents came from the Interior Ministry's criminal investigations division and attempted to seize financial records. The suspicious timing and the aggressive and invasive nature of the search are highly alarming considering the Moscow Jewish Community had no notice or warning that its registration was in question. We are also very concerned that the Ministry has interfered with the private security arrangements of the synagogue over the past few weeks, leaving the institution and its congregants feeling vulnerable to attack. The Russian Federation has made progress in combating anti-Semitism and promoting religious freedom and the rule of law. We urge you to take immediate action to uphold the rights and safety of the Jewish community and to conduct a thorough investigation of the Interior Ministry's actions. We appreciate your consideration of our interest in this matter and look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, 1. Henry A. Waxman 2. Tom Lantos 3. Mark Foley 4. James M. Talent 5. John E. Porter 6. Benjamin L. Cardin 7. Anthony D. Weiner 8. Peter Deutsch 9. Jerrold Nadler 10. Sam Gejdenson 11. Howard L. Berman 12. Steny H. Hoyer 13. Eliot Engel 14. Joseph Crowley 15. Neil Abercrombie 16. Alcee L. Hastings 17. Robert I. Wexler 18. Stephen Horn 19. Christopher Cox 20. Carolyn B. Maloney 21. Michael P. Forbes 22. James P. McGovern 23. Gary L. Ackerman 24. Juanita Millender-McDonald 25. Steven C. LaTourette 26. Rush D. Holt 27. Frank Pallone, Jr. 28. Sander M. Levin 29. Constance A. Morella 30. Janice D. Schakowsky 31. Martin Frost 32. David Minge 33. Edward J. Markey 34. Eni Faleomavaega 35. Michael E. Capuano 36. Joseph M. Hoeffel 37. Shelley Berkley 38. Tim Holden 39. Thomas G. Tancredo 40. James E. Rogan 41. John F. Tierney 42. Joseph R. Pitts 43. Jim Saxton 44. Mark Udall 45. Steven R. Rothman 46. Grace F. Napolitano 47. William Delahunt 48. Stephanie Tubbs Jones 49. Lynn N. Rivers 50. Norman D. Dicks 51. Robert A. Brady 52. Nick Lampson 53. William Clay 54. Dana Rohrabacher 55. Julian C. Dixon 56. Lloyd Doggett 57. Norman Sisisky 58. Nita M. Lowey 59. Debbie Stabenow 60. Sherrod Brown 61. Robert A. Weygand 62. James H. Maloney 63. Patrick J. Kennedy Return to top MEMO: OCTOBER 23 TO: Interested Parties FROM: Denis C. Braham, Chairman Howard E. Sachs, President Mark B. Levin, Executive Director SUBJECT: Police Search of Moscow Choral Synagogue UPDATE: October 23, 2000 Since we sent our memo last Friday, October 20, we have learned of the following developments concerning the October 19 search of the Moscow Choral Synagogue by Interior Ministry officials. Earlier today, NCSJ again had the opportunity to speak by telephone with Pavel Feldblum, Executive Vice President of the Moscow Jewish Community. Pavel Feldblum expressed the community’s appreciation for American Jewry’s immediate and effective response, which sent a strong message to Russian officials as well as to Russian Jews, that there is a strong international base of support for their welfare and the future of minority rights in the Russian Federation. According to Feldblum, the Interior Ministry official who led Thursday’s search telephoned the Moscow Jewish Community’s accountant today, conveying his surprise at the international attention, particularly since the officials’ exhaustive search had yielded no compromising records. It was pointed out to the investigator that last week’s action had been illegal and a violation of the community’s rights. (As we reported last Friday, the top community leadership was in Israel at the time the synagogue was searched. As part of this solidarity mission, the Russian Jewish delegation had a private meeting in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.) As Jews worldwide – including in Russia – join together in solidarity with the people of Israel, NCSJ is indicating to Russian officials that this in no way limits our vigilance on behalf of the 500,000 Jews still residing in the Russian Federation. Return to top MEMO: OCTOBER 20 We have learned that yesterday, October 19, Interior Ministry officials entered the Moscow Choral Synagogue, when all the community’s top officials were away on a one-day solidarity mission to Israel. Claiming to seek documents regarding the registration of the Moscow Jewish Community, the administrative hierarchy of the Russian Jewish Congress and financial information, the officials searched the premises for six hours and collected financial records and other documents. Alerted to this improper police action, attorneys for the synagogue arrived and stopped the search in progress, as no warrant had been issued. Following lengthy negotiations, the officials – having spent ten hours in the synagogue – agreed to take only documents which are already available on file with the government. NCSJ has been in contact with Moscow Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt and with Moscow Jewish Community Executive Director Pavel Feldblum, as well as with the Russian Government and the U.S. State Department and National Security Council. Lesley Weiss, NCSJ Director of Community Services and Cultural Affairs, met today in Moscow with community leadership and with U.S. Embassy officials, and the U.S. Embassy has also been in contact with synagogue officials. The Moscow Jewish Community and Russian Jewish Congress held a press conference earlier today, stressing the illegality of this “rude violation” and noting that the Interior Ministry took advantage of the fact that the top community leaders were out of town and unavailable for immediate response. One of the officials present at yesterday’s search has called to apologize for the action, but no official government response has been registered. NCSJ shares the Russian Jewish community’s deep concern and distress about the abrupt intrusion into a central institution of Russian Jewry. Throughout the summer, we have expressed concerns about the appearance of government intimidation and interference in community affairs, as have the Administration and Members of Congress. NCSJ will update you on developments in this case. Return to top Ha’aretz October 22, 2000 Russian chief rabbi's synagogue searched The Associated Press MOSCOW - Armed police entered one of Russia's main synagogues on a day when its leadership was away in Israel and tried to seize financial documents without a warrant, Jewish leaders said Friday. Three officers entered Moscow's Choral Synagogue at 10 A.M. Thursday and continued to look through documents for 10 hours, said Russia's chief rabbi, Adolf Shayevich. The Orthodox Jewish synagogue is the main base of Shayevich's Congress of Jewish Religious Communities and Organizations. The raid came on a day when Shayevich and other leaders of the Russian Jewish Congress and the Moscow Jewish Community were on a solidarity visit to Israel, leaving only technical staff at the synagogue. The officers counted the synagogue's cash, scrutinized telephone bills and demanded numbers of people who had spoken with rabbis on the phone, said the vice president of the Moscow Jewish Community, Pavel Feldblum. Police made photocopies of documents and moved to confiscate the originals, but backed down following protests by a lawyer who was called to intervene. "I have served at the Moscow synagogue for 30 years, and I had never been so shocked and dismayed before," Shayevich said at a news conference. The vice president of the Russian Jewish Congress, Alexander Osovtsov, said the incident reminded him of the darkest years of the reign of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. "As far as I know, no such actions have been carried out in Russia since the 1930s," Osovtsov said. Police officials refused to comment. The three officers claimed they were looking into donations from media magnate Vladimir Gusinsky to the synagogue and into alleged money-laundering, Jewish officials said. Return to top
	Home About Mission Links Interns Kehilla Statistics Donations Search Contact 2020 K Street, NW, Suite 7800, Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: (202) 898-2500 Fax: (202) 898-0822 Email: ncsj@ncsj.org Web site: www.ncsj.org