Reports of anti-Semitic disturbances in the Ukrainian town of Boguslav at the end of April have only now leaked out of the USSR. According to the reports, a former Ukrainian history student at the University of Uzhgordo, surnamed Lapotetsky, and a friend broke window panes of Jewish houses, shouting abuses such as “zhids, get out of our houses and go home to Israel.” In all, 15 houses were attacked on April 28 and 29.
The occupants immediately complained to the authorities who ordered the arrest of those responsible. Following a two-week investigation a trial took place in the municipal theater building which was open to the public. Before passing sentence the Judge assured the defendants that they would lose all desire to repeat their actions.
Lapotetsky was given a five-year prison term, and his accomplice, three years. On hearing the sentence, the uncle of one of the defendants said that when his nephew would come out of prison. “he would kill as many zhids as the number of days he served in prison.” The two were sentenced on a charge of hooliganism. Anti-Semitism was never mentioned, according to the reports.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
