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June 16, 2000/13 Sivan I 5760, Vol. 52, No.41
Russian Jewish tensions escalate
LEV GORODETSKY
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
MOSCOW - Escalating tensions in the Russian Jewish community exploded for all to see this week as authorities arrested Vladimir Goussinsky, the media tycoon who also serves as the president of the Russian Jewish Congress.
Last Tuesday's arrest, reportedly on charges of fraud and embezzlement, came just hours after 26 Lubavitch rabbis gathered here to elect Rabbi Berel Lazar the chief rabbi of Russia.
While unconnected on the surface, the two developments are linked in that they could have major implications for Russian Jewry and its relations to the Kremlin.
Russia's chief rabbi is important because that individual is the only official representative of the Jewish community recognized by the government.
The election of Lazar as chief rabbi comes just a week after the country's chief rabbi for the past decade, Adolph Shayevich, accused the Russian government of seeking his ouster.
Both observers and players on the scene have expressed concern that the communal in-fighting is clearly linked to the bitter rivalry between Goussinsky and Russia's new president, Vladimir Putin, and that the rivalry has spilled over in dangerous ways to the Jewish community, which numbers an estimated 600,000.
Goussinsky, who has supported Putin's political rivals, and the offices of Media-Most, the tycoon's media empire, had been targeted in recent weeks by the government, which has been cracking down on the media.
Putin, who was out of the country when Goussinsky was arrested Tuesday, told Russian reporters he was surprised by the move.
The arrest prompted American Jewish organizations to come to Goussinsky's defense.
Goussinsky "enjoys the strong support" of the organized American Jewish community in his leadership role" as president of the RJC," said a statement by NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
The statement added: "We expect the Russian authorities to follow due process and international legal standards with respect to Mr. Goussinsky and to assure the full rights of the Russian Jewish community."
Jewish officials also expressed skepticism over Putin's reaction, saying he most likely was involved.
For his part, Lazar also expressed concern, saying that the arrest of a senior Jewish official such as Goussinsky "is a shocking and dangerous development." Lazar called upon the Russian government to immediately free Goussinsky and that he was sure Goussinsky would comply with the authorities'investigation.
The Lubavitch rabbis who elected Lazar chief rabbi were delegates of the Congress of Jewish Communities in Russia.
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