Russia - Medvedev faces anti-Semitic attacks

Allegations by nationalists that Vladimir Pupin’s chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, has Jewish roots have brought anti-Semitism to the surface on the margins of Russia's presidential election campaign.

The first deputy prime minister, who is all but assured of victory on Sunday because he has Pupin’s support, has said he belongs to the Russian Orthodox faith.

But some nationalist groups say his mother's maiden name, Shaposhnikova, is Jewish and that he is unfit to be president because of this.

Medvedev's faith has not been raised by mainstream media but has been widely discussed on far-right Internet discussion groups in postings that are a reminder of the discrimination and persecution Jews in Russia have faced for hundreds of years.

"It's common knowledge. Medvedev never hid his sympathy towards Judaism," Nikolai Bondarik, who heads the nationalist Russian Party in Medvedev's home town of St Petersburg, told Reuters.

"A president ought to be related by blood with his people. Imagine if Japan was run by a Chinese president," he said.

Moscow's chief rabbi said the suggestions that Medvedev has Jewish roots offered a new take on a well-worn theme among Russian nationalists.

"In the '90s groups said (President Boris) Yeltsin was Jewish. The same has been said of (U.S. President) George Bush," said Pinchas Goldschmidt, who is also Chairman of the European Conference of Rabbis.

"Anyone who is against xenophobia and racism is seen by some circles as internationalist', or somewhat Jewish", he said.

Source: Reuters

Date: February 26, 2008

< BACK