Kyiv has escalated the conflict with Minsk over the Hasidim
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko held Belarus responsible for the fact that about a thousand Hasidic Jewish pilgrims were stuck in no man's land on the border.
He stated this on the air of the Ukraine-24 TV channel, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“This is not a friendly reaction. We asked the Belarusian side not to let them cross their border. But the Belarusian border guards, as I understand it, on command from above, let through about a thousand Hasidim, who are now in neutral territory. But the decision of the government and the president has been made,” Gerashchenko said.
About 700 Hasidic Israelis are stuck in no man's land between Belarus and Russia. They were heading to the city of Uman, where they traditionally celebrate the Jewish New Year on September 19 at the grave of the famous righteous tzaddik Nachman.
Ukrainian border guards did not allow pilgrims through due to the critical situation with coronavirus.
To appease the Ukrainian government, Hasidim recorded a video in which they, dressed in Cossack costumes, sing the Ukrainian anthem and shout “Glory to Ukraine,” “Thank you, Ukraine.” The video was posted on his Facebook by the chairman of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee, Eduard Dolinsky.
Apparently, the recording was not made in Belarus. The Jews are standing in a sunny clearing, but at the border it is now cold and cloudy.
Jews are fed by Belarusians. President Alexander Lukashenko ordered to provide the pilgrims with kosher food. The Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations sent 8 modules with life support systems and lighting equipment to the border. The Gomel Regional Executive Committee also volunteered to help the Hasidim.
Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri appealed to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky with a request to allow Hasidim into the country.
Kyiv has escalated its conflict with Minsk over Hasidim.