Putin admits grassroots anti-Semitism still exists in Russia

(Interfax – Novo-Ogarevo, 7 November) Grassroots anti-Semitism still exists in Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted.

“You have said that there is less anti-Semitism now, but this means that it still exists,” he said on Wednesday (7 November) at his meeting with chief rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar and president of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia Aleksandr Boroda.

“It does not of course exist at the level of the state but it is present at the grassroots level,” Putin said.

For his part, Lazar stressed that, for the first time in years, anti-Semitism was on the wane, and Jews felt comfortable in Russia. “This is to a large extent thanks to you,” the chief rabbi of Russia said.