We are hardly surprised by lies lately. Repressive laws, aimed to curtail citizens’ rights and freedoms, that were illegitimately passed by a parliamentary majority are called “developing democracy.” The murderers of Maidan activists are protected by the senile Prime Minister, who publicly stated that it was “a provocation by the opposition.” These odious lies include hints made by pseudo-leaders of Jewish organizations about the participants of peaceful protest acts having anything to do with organizing attacks on two Jews attending the Podil synagogue. Naturally, they have no proof whatsoever. They know everything in advance: the main goal is to attack opponents of the current government. Leaving the current system standing is the only way for them to preserve their criminal businesses. May God be their judge, and I also hope their children and family will judge them, as well. The widely circulated lies must be obvious for them.

The entire world sees that Maidan is a world of human solidarity and dignity. This is an act of opposing evil and violence, even at the cost of health and life. People have come out to the Maidan for a normal life in a state ruled by law, not for a life in a feudalistic whip fund. And it thus isn’t surprising that the leaders of the opposition and Maidan’s self-defense forces proposed to help protect the synagogues, knowing the intentions of the provocateurs. It isn’t at all surprising that the Pushkin Klezmer Band also played at the Maidan among many others. There was a single prayer by clergy from various churches, a rabbi and a mufti - for a peaceful Ukraine for all of its citizens, and not a Ukraine for bandits. This list can easily be continued. But the liars and Judases, selling out for silver pieces, aren’t interested in that. But we are interested. All those who dream of a democratic Ukraine, where everyone will live normally, be they Christians or Jews, Pagans or atheists -- everyone, absolutely everyone. And we will live normal lives, despite all provocations by all the villains, including the Jewish villains. Ze’ev Zhabotinsky warned about this once: “Like all peoples, we have the right to have our own villains.” Thank God, there aren’t many of those.

Leonid Finberg
Director of the Center for Jewish Studies
of National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy,”
member of the Ukrainian PEN-Club