As Congress debates President Joe Biden's request for $64 billion to Ukraine, on top of the $113 billion already sent, the Eastern European nation is under international human rights law and bilateral ties with the U.S. that it desecrates Jews. The person is acting in violation of the agreement between the two parties. And he has refused to respond to a parliamentary inquiry into it.
Ukraine is siphoning billions of dollars in U.S. taxes, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy recently visited Washington to ask for more.But his country is ruining 1994 agreement We are cooperating with the U.S. is in violation By digging up a Jewish cemetery in Uman, Ukraine, and building condominiums, it complied with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The project, which began in the summer of 2016 in the Ukrainian city of Uman, is the burial site of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a well-known Jewish pilgrimage site as a mass grave for the victims of the Haidamac family massacre. According to some sources, it may still be excavated as early as the summer of 2022. report In Ukrainian media. The site attracts tens of thousands of Jews from all over the world on Rosh Hashana alone, and thousands more throughout the year, even during wartime.
Ukraine and the United States signed a bilateral agreement agreement In 1994, it was agreed to “take appropriate measures to preserve the cultural heritage of all national, religious and ethnic groups living or occupying the territory and who were victims of the Second World War”. did. The law states that “cultural heritage” includes “cemeteries, monuments to the dead, and related archival materials.” Furthermore, “if an entity is unable to ensure adequate protection and preservation within its territory on its own…it shall seek the cooperation of other States Parties and their nationals, if assistance is required for this purpose.'' .”It has said.
In October 2021, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) privately sent a letter to President Zelenskiy calling for Jewish cemeteries that “violate existing culture.” expressed “concern” about the “blasphemy” of Heritage Protection Agreement,” he emphasized.[the] Cemeteries and other sites of significant historical and cultural significance are afforded legal protection under the 1994 Bilateral Agreement between the United States and Ukraine on the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage. ”
Later that month, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rep. Susan Wilde (D-PA), Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Rep. Doug Lamborn A separate letter was sent from lawmakers to Zelenskiy personally. (R-Colorado) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) warned about the “destruction” and “desecration” of cemeteries, calling the act “a 1994 agreement between the United States and Ukraine on 'protection.' “This is a violation of international agreements,” he reiterated. and Preservation of Cultural Heritage,” and President Obama's Cemeteries Protection Act of 2014, the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 describes the desecration of cemeteries as an “attack on the fundamental right to religious freedom.” guaranteed. It is especially egregious when such crimes are condoned by the local or central government of the country in which they occur. ”
The letter called on President Zelenskiy to “take all measures to prevent the destruction of cemeteries,” calling it “an important issue of religious freedom and a violation of internationally recognized human and cultural rights.” Stated.
Graves being dug up to build condominiums in Naftali Shapiro, Uman, Ukraine
The following year, in September 2022, a letter signed by 23 parliamentarians was sent to Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, accusing him of “several illegal construction projects that continue unabated within the protected area of the Tzadik burial ground.” An issue was raised. Nachman in Breslov…despite the order to stop work…'' The letter said the MPs were looking forward to hearing from you on measures to prevent illegal construction in Uman.
The same month, Ukrainian media report “When construction workers began digging the foundation hole in the spring, they encountered human remains” on the cemetery grounds right next to Nachman's grave.
Despite three letters from Congress opposing the project, and despite approval of billions of dollars to the Eastern European country, construction did not falter or slow down.
According to local reports report In March 2023, a Ukrainian court ruled over illegal construction in a protected area of a cemetery. ordered Whatever was built to be demolished.
The court said the project was “in violation of the law” and was “naturally constructed within the protected area of the monument 'The Tomb of Tzadik Nahman of 1811'” and ordered the structure to be demolished at the developer's expense. Ta. The report states:
The building was constructed in violation of current laws and within the protected area of the Tomb of Tzadik Nahman, a monument of local importance on the site of an ancient Jewish cemetery, without proper permission from the cultural heritage protection authorities. It should be noted that Inside the History and Culture Center of Uman City.
According to a photo of the scene taken on January 2, 2024, obtained by Breitbart, the first photo report by independent news site Paradoxical politics — its structure is still intact and a work in progress.
The desecration of the Uman cemetery violates the United Nations Charter of Human Rights, which protects the right to free worship and specifically prohibits the preservation of mass graves. said As a priority of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Breitbart reached out to the Ukrainian embassy for comment eight months ago, but has yet to receive a response.
Emma-Jo Morris is the politics editor at Breitbart News.Please email her at ejmorris@breitbart.com or follow her upon twitter.
