174 Jewish Religious Books Burned in Sumy

01-09-2008

01.09.2008 - Hlukhiv (Sumy Region)-A criminal case has been opened against Hlukhiv customs workers in northern Ukraine's Sumy Region for burning 174 Jewish religious books. Obkom.net.ua posted the news on 26 August 2008.

According to the regional procurator's office, because the owners of the Jewish religious books had not paid customs fees, the customs office confiscated the items. The owners never claimed the literature, so the customs officers took the books to be sold. But there was no demand for the books, so they were returned to the customs officers.

Rather than give the literature to the All-Ukrainian Congress of Jewish Religious Communities, the customs workers made the decision, illegal according to the procurator, to "recyle" the literature and the books were burned.

As a consequence, a criminal case was opened for exceeding one's authority and service authorization. Ukrainian legislation calls for from two to five years of imprisonment and removal of the right to hold corresponding government positions.
http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;24301/