Press Release - 07.13.99

Neo-Nazi Stabs Jewish Activist at Moscow Choral Synagogue

A young neo-Nazi, displaying a large swastika on his chest and screaming "We will kill all of you," stormed into the Moscow Choral Synagogue today and stabbed the business manager of the Moscow Jewish Arts Center. The victim, Leopold Kaimovsky, is in serious condition in a Moscow hospital, sustaining wounds to the face, stomach and chest, and having lost a large amount of blood. Moscow police arrested the 20-year-old attacker, who was identified as a Moscow law student.

The National Conference on Soviet Jewry has been in contact with Chief Rabbi of Moscow Pinchas Goldschmidt, Russian Ambassador to the United States Yuri Ushakov, and officials at the U.S. National Security Council and State Department. In consultation with Russian Jewish community leadership, NCSJ has urged the Russian government to condemn this act, fully prosecute the alleged assailant, and provide round-the-clock security for Jewish institutions in Moscow.

The U.S. Government has strongly condemned this action as an act of terrorism. U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jim Collins has been in contact with Jewish community leaders in Moscow and with Russian authorities regarding this incident.

In recent months, Moscow has witnessed a surge in neo-Nazi demonstrations and activities, including neo-Nazi rallies and the spread of anti-Semitic propaganda. In May, two identical bombs exploded simultaneously near Moscow’s two main synagogues, and a disconnected bomb was found inside the Shalom Jewish Theater several weeks later. All of these incidents have occurred amidst a climate of economic and political uncertainty.

NCSJ remains in regular contact with community leadership in Moscow and with government and diplomatic officials in Washington and Moscow. We will inform you as new information becomes available.