Chief Russian Rabbi hoping Yanukovych will continue speaking against glorification of Nazism

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Russia's chief rabbi Berl Lazar has said he is hoping that Viktor Yanukovych, who was announced the winner of the Ukrainian presidential election, will continue to defend tolerance and speak out against "aggressive nationalism" in Ukraine.

While congratulating Yanukovych for his win, Lazar said Yanukovych's position against "attempts to glorify people working for Nazis" largely enabled Jewish communities in Ukraine "to develop dynamically, maintain their spirituality and pass it on to the younger generation."

"I sincerely hope that now that you have been elected to this high state post your policy will be determining for the entire country," Lazar said in an interview supplied to the portal Interfax-Religion (www.interfax-religion.ru) by Lazar's press service on Friday.

Lazar called Yanukovych "one of the most experienced politicians in Ukraine," who many hope will improve the situation in the country.

12.02.2010