EAJC Update -  December 2003

 

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress





Assistance to JAR Community / Gratitude to EAJC Leadership and CJROAR

Triumph of Anti-Fascists in Court / EAJC Support

EAJC President / Visit to Moscow
EAJC President / Message to the President of Russia

Inauguration of Mayor of Moscow / Participation of Deputy Chairman of EAJC Council of Rabbis 

---

Assistance to JAR Community / Gratitude to EAJC Leadership and CJROAR

Birobidzhan, Russia, December 2003

Incorporated in the Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations in Russia (CJROAR), the Religious Judaic Community «Beyt Tshoova» of the city of Birobidzhan expressed its gratitude to leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), and also to the CJROAR leaders for the rendered help. It was a point in the message of the Chairman of the «Beit Tshoova» Community Dov (Boris) Kofman, which came to the address of the EAJC Public Relations and Media Department.

The Jews from the capital of the Jewish Autonomous Region (JAR) of the Russian Federation expressed the gratitude to the EAJC for its participation in the creation and handing over to the Community of the calendar "Commandment of Mercy”. This Jewish calendar for the year 5764 according to the Jewish chronology became a fruit of teamwork and financing from the part of the EAJC, CJROAR and American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJJDC).

D. Kofman informed, that the received calendars had been presented to members of the Community «Beit Tshoova», to the Jewish kindergarten and the Jewish general education school of Birobidzhan, to the Advanced Training Institute for Teachers, to top office-holders of the JAR bodies of government and municipal authorities of Birobidzhan, as well as to representatives of the JAR business circles supporting to the Community.

The EAJC President Alexander Machkevitch noted in his comment about the Community “Beit Tshoova”s gratitude, that the EAJC will never disregard the JAR and its community. “The Jewish autonomy in the Russian Far East has always served and continues to serve as a symbol of the unshakable desire of our people to keep up and develop their way of life, no matter where”, — emphasized A. Machkevitch.

The EAJC President also thanked the CJROAR for its active participation in the construction of the Jewish communal life in the Far-Eastern regions of Russia.



Triumph of Anti-Fascists in Court / EAJC Support

Moscow, Russia, December 3, 2003

On December 3, 2003, the Kuntsevo district court of Moscow non-suited Alexander Sevastyanov’s claim for defense of his honor and dignity to Chairman of the Moscow Anti-Fascist Center (MAC) Eugeny Proshechkin.

A. Sevastyanov is one of three co-chairmen of the National-State Party of Russia (NSPR) created and registered by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation AT the beginning of 2003.

In May of 2003, the NSPR was deprived of registration after a series of public performances by its heads from extremist and anti-Semitic positions.

In January of 2000 E. Proshechkin addressed the Office of Public Prosecutor of Moscow with an application in which he specified, that A. Sevastyanov over some years have been engaged in exciting national and religious hostility.

In the year of 2000, A. Sevastyanov issued the book "What the Jews Want From Us" in which he had collected publications from "The National Newspaper" edited by him. The book was based on A. Sevastyanov’s article "What They Want From Us" ("The National Newspaper ", special issues 1 and 3 for 1999).

For that publication, on March 9, 2000, A. Sevastyanov was officially issued a warning signed by Chief of the Moscow Regional Department for Affairs of the Press T. Cherkizova. In the warning, inadmissibility of propagation of "national hatred, enmity, intolerance and dissent" was specified.

On July 5, 2000, A. Sevastyanov was offered the second official warning over new publications of an anti-Semitic character, signed by Deputy Minister for Affairs of the Press, TV and Radio Broadcasting, and Mass Media of the Russian Federation V. Sirozhenko.

A. Sevastyanov tried to appeal against both warnings born to him in court, but he lost both lawsuits. On July 18, 2001, the Moscow City Court rejected A. Sevastyanov's complaint concerning V. Sirozhenko, and on November 22, 2001, the Tver Court of Moscow rejected A. Sevastyanov's complaint concerning T. Cherkizova.

However, despite of it all, the Office of Public Prosecutor of Moscow refused E. Proshechkin’s instituting a criminal case against A. Sevastyanov, as it had not found attributes of a crime in his publications.

All that allowed A. Sevastyanov to address the court with a claim against E. Proshechkin. A. Sevastyanov demanded indemnification for the infringement of "honor and dignity". In May of 2001, the Kuntsevo District Court of Moscow partially satisfied A. Sevastyanov's claim against E. Proshechkin.

However thereupon the Moscow City Court cancelled the Kuntsevo District Court’s judgment and returned the case for re-consideration.

During the new consideration of the case in the Kuntsevo District Court, an official examination at the Institute of the Russian Language of the Russian Academy of Sciences was appointed at the expense of the respondent.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) made the decision to refund E. Proshechkin’s expenses for examination fees. The examination confirmed, that A. Sevastyanov in his publications created a negative image and states negative estimations both to the Jews and other nationalities and faiths, what, according to the Law, implies excitation of national and religious hostility.

The expert opinion in many respects also defined the judgment of the court, which non-suited A. Sevastyanov’s claim to E. Proshechkin.

Making comments on the results of that proceeding for the media, President of the EAJC Alexander Machkevitch noted, that the antifascist movement had always been one of the most powerful elements in the business of maintaining the interethnic and inter-religious peace and consent. "We are satisfied with the results of the court judgment and we are going to support fair demands of anti-fascists not only in Moscow, but also everywhere where there will be such a necessity ", A. Machkevitch emphasized



EAJC President / Visit to Moscow
EAJC President / Message to the President of Russia

Moscow, Russia, December 9-15, 2003

On December 14-15, 2003, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) Alexander Machkevitch visited Moscow.

While preparing himself for the visit and having learned about the tragically act of terrorism in the Russian capital on December 9, 2003, the EAJC Head directed his condolences to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin (see Appendix).

On his arrival to the capital of Russia on December 14, 2003, A. Machkevitch took part in the Solemn Charitable Evening Party devoted to the 10th anniversary of the activity by the EAJC’s Secretary General of the Council of Rabbis, r. Pinchas Goldschmidt in the rank of the Main Rabbi of Moscow.

In the quality of the main organizer and hospitable host of the Evening Party, Vice-President of the EAJC, Chairman of the Supervisory Council of the European Jewish Congress (EJC), a known businessman and patron of art Vyacheslav Kantor was acting.

The party also involved: Deputy Chairman of the EAJC Council of Rabbis, Main Rabbi of Russia Adolf Shaevich, Vice-President of the EAJC Michael Bezelyansky, the President of the World Congress of Mountain Jews (WCMJ), WCMJ representative in EAJC Zaur Gilalov, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the USA to the Russian Federation Alexander Wershbow, etc. A. Machkevitch and V. Kantor have solemnly handed over r. Pinchas Goldschmidt the portrait one of the first Main Rabbis of Moscow of Jacob Maze.

On December 15, 2003 President EAJC A. Machkevitch has been accepted by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State Israel to the Russian Federation Arcady Mil-Man in its residence. A. Mil-Man has told A. Machkevitch about the basic directions of work of Embassy and opportunities of its cooperation with EAJC.

Then the Parties have discussed forms of participation of the Israeli diplomats during the international interreligious dialogue under aegis of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev, and also have exchanged opinions on actual problems of the Russian Jewry and role EAJC in "the Jewish street" of Russia.

Append.

Almaty City, Kazakhstan, December 9, 2003

To the President of the Russian Federation

Vladimir V. Putin

Dear Mr. President,

With indignation and a pain has learned about the next bloody evil deed, which has happened in Moscow near the “National” hotel.

Terror does not have justification, there are no political prospects, and there cannot be a limitation period. I am convinced, that customers of this crime will be found, and they will be punished with a fair hand of the law.

I ask to transfer my condolences to relatives and relatives of all victims. I do not doubt that terror can be eradicated.

For this purpose it is necessary to unit all progressive forces. In struggle against world evil should not be neither neutral, nor indifferent.

Mr. President, I hope, that Russia, under your management will manage to answer calls of global extremism.

Alexander Machkevitch,

Euro-Asian Jewish Congress President


Inauguration of Mayor of Moscow / Participation of Deputy Chairman of EAJC Council of Rabbis 

Russia, Moscow, December 17, 2003

On December 17, 2003 in the capital of Russia there was a formal ceremony of introduction to the post of Mayor of Moscow for Yury Luzhkov. The ceremony was attended by: the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, other officials, and also representatives of the public, including Russian Rabbi in Chief Adolf Shaevich, himself being Vice-President of the Council of Rabbis of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) and spiritual leader of the Congress of the Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations in Russia (CJROAR).

The EAJC President Alexander Machkevitch, making comments for the mass-media A. Shaevich's participation in the inauguration of the mayor of the Russian capital, noted, that successfully developing partnership of the Jewish community and authorities of Moscow had passed the test of time and had become one of powerful factors of supporting the interethnic peace and consent in the city.

"All the Muscovites, Moscow Jews including, can be proud of such a hardworking and tolerant Mayor, as Yuri Luzhkov ", A. Machkevitch said, and added that the EAJC considers it its duty to involve the authoritative governor of the Russian capital into the process of international interreligious dialog which has been taking place under the aegis of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev.

The EAJC President also noted, that joint participation in the ceremony by President V. Putin and r. A. Shaevich indicates new positive development dynamics of relations between the supreme authorities of Russia and the CJROAR.

- Roman Spektor, Head of the EAJC Public Relations and Media Department