Police in Ukraine have opened an investigation into a senior official in the western Zakarpattia region after an alleged antisemitic incident during an official meeting of the State Emergency Service.
According to local reports and sources in the Jewish community, a senior department head forced a newly appointed official to “dress up” as a haredi Jew during the meeting, including wearing a Jewish-style head covering with fake sidelocks.
The incident reportedly took place on April 30, during a meeting at which the new deputy chief of staff, Ivgeni Prasolov, was introduced. According to the reports, department head Oleh Samsonenko brought into the room a head covering associated with haredi Jewish dress, including fake sidelocks, and ordered Prasolov to wear it in front of his colleagues for a photo.
Local sources said Prasolov initially refused, but after pressure from his superior, he was forced to put on the head covering while wearing his emergency services uniform.
Samsonenko later allegedly said Prasolov “resembles the Jewish people in his wisdom,” before adding that he was “like Jews in his cunning.” He also reportedly said that at the next meeting, all employees would be required to arrive wearing helmets, while Prasolov would have to wear the same Jewish-style head covering again.
According to sources in the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, authorities have opened criminal proceedings on suspicion of incitement to violate equality on national or religious grounds, under Article 161 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.
Authorities have not yet issued an official response to the case.