A synagogue set to open in the Russian city of Kostroma was repeatedly vandalized in recent days, according to Andrey Osherov-head of the local Jewish community (affiliated with the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia) and UCSJ's regional monitor. The synagogue, which was targeted by unidentified arsonists this summer in an unsolved attack, was vandalized with swastikas three times between November 19-27, 2001. After the last incident on November 27, the Jewish leadership decided not to clean up the swastikas so that they would be visible to Jewish leaders and government officials scheduled to visit the synagogue for its official opening on November 28. Mr. Osherov explained this to UCSJ that the swastikas were left untouched because:
"[W]e want to ask questions of the mayor and the governor about what happened and find out what sort of measures and help they plan to give our community so that such things become less possible in the future.
Unfortunately, like always, everything starts on a small scale. First swastikas on the walls (this summer there was an attempt to burn down the building), then more concrete actions. They say that in the country there is no state antisemitism, but one would like to ask who stands behind these attacks, who directs the youth to paint swastikas and insult the feelings of the Jews of Kostroma, who are citizens of Russia? What bad thing did the Jewish community do to our city for people to treat us this way? There are a lot of questions, but despite this, we live, we are growing, we are opening the synagogue and we remain Jews!"
In addition, two men entered the synagogue on the night of November 19 by sticking a knife to the throat of the watchman. The criminals stole a television set and fled. The watchman jumped out of a second story window and called the police, who arrived quickly, but were unable to find the robbers. Mr. Osherov pointed out that the community had purchased property insurance after this summer's arson, but that the TV set was not covered.
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