On Sunday, January 13th, thousands in Moscow protested Russia’s passing of the “anti-Magnitsky” law, which bans Americans from adopting Russian orphans. This social protest, referred to as the “March Against Jerks,” included both hardened political activists, as well as first-time protesters. Many feel that it crosses a moral line to target children to make a […]
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Remembering the Refusenik Movement
By Jessica Ravitz, CNN (CNN) — Driven by desperation, Marina and Lev Furman stepped out of their home in Leningrad and took a 20-minute walk into uncertainty. Trailed by KGB agents, they bundled up and set out in the weak winter light for Palace Square, site of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. They brought signs demanding freedom. And […]
Honoring Vladimir Bukovsky: A Champion of Human Rights
December 30, 2012 marked the 70th birthday of Vladimir Bukovsky – one of the most prominent pioneers of the Movement for Human Rights. Vladimir started his civil service back at school. It is difficult to overestimate the role of this man who underwent the man-made hell of special psychiatric institutions, years of prisons and concentration camps and deportation […]
Mila Kunis Targeted by Anti-Semitic Ukrainian Lawmaker
Ukrainian MP Igor Miroshnichenko stirred controversy last month by posting an anti-Semitic comment on Facebook regarding Ukrainian-born American actress Mila Kunis. Miroshnichenko stated, “She is not Ukrainian, she is a Jewess by birth,” using the term “zhydovka” which roughly translates to “dirty Jewess,” instead of the accepted word “ievreïska.” He added, “She is proud of this and […]
Book Traces Legal Roots of Hungarian Anti-Semitism
From Central European University— Maria M. Kovacs’ new book is unexpectedly timely. The book, which traces the legal roots of Hungarian anti-Semitism back to quotas imposed in 1920, long before the rise of Nazi Germany, was published on the same day as a Hungarian member of Parliament called for Jewish MPs to be counted. “When […]
The Rise of Svoboda in Ukraine
Read about the background of Svoboda, Ukraine’s controversial far-right political party that won 10.5% of the final parliamentary vote in the last elections. Page 1 Page 2
Obama Signs Magnitsky Bill Into Law
Read the UCSJ President’s Message Regarding UCSJ’s work with this bill here. Dec 14 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Friday signed into law a bill that modernizes U.S. trade relations with Russia by ending a Cold War-era provision, but also punishes Russian human rights violators. Russia has objected strongly to the human rights component […]
IRF Roundtable Letter on Declining Religious Freedom Conditions in Kazakhstan
UCSJ, along with other members of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable, sent a letter to the UN regarding our concern for declining religious freedom conditions in Kazakhstan. Click the above link to view it, or read an excerpt below: Prof. Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Office of the […]
Anti-Semitic March in Kharkov, Ukraine
The following description of an anti-Semitic march that took place in Kharkov (the second largest city in Ukraine) is a translation of an article originally posted in Russian. The original can be accessed here. During the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary elections, the nationalistic party “Svoboda” (Freedom) organized a rally. It was announced to be a protest […]
USCIRF Alarmed by Anti-Semitic Remarks in Hungary
On December 3, 2012, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following statement regarding the anti-Semitic remarks of Hungarian politician Marton Gyongyosi: