Moscow, Russia - Jewish Communities Outraged by Ukrainian Nationalist Decree

Moscow, Russia - The Jewish Communities in Russia has harshly criticized Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's decision to recognize the members of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists - Ukrainian Insurgent Army as fighters for Ukraine's independence during WWII. "Equating the Bandera men [Stepan Bandera was one of the UPA's founders] and WWII veterans is just another attempt to rehabilitate Nazi henchmen and to rewrite history. It is especially regrettable that this was done by the leader of a country that has been in brotherly union with Russia for centuries,"they said.

"It is obvious that this decision by the Ukrainian president fully contradicts the declared course toward European integration and pushes Ukrainian society toward an even deeper split than that we have seen during the political battles during the past several years."