Two Jewish Students Stabbed In Ukraine

29 August 2005 -- Two Jewish students were stabbed in Kyiv in what Jewish leaders called an example of growing anti-Semitism in Ukraine.
Police say young men last night severely beat the two students, who study at Kyiv's main synagogue.

Kyiv police spokesman Volodymyr Polishchuk said one of the students was in a coma after undergoing brain surgery. He said police were hunting for the suspected assailants, aged 16 to 18, who apparently belonged to a skinhead nationalist group.

Reports said at least one of the victims is an Israeli citizen.

Kyiv Chief Rabbi Yakov Blaih said authorities are doing too little to counter growing anti-Semitism from Ukrainian nationalists.

Ukraine has a Jewish population of about 100,000.

(AP)