ICES concerned about opposition's intention to unite with 'nationalist and anti-Semitic' Svoboda

Kyiv, October 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – ICES President and a deputy of the Israeli Knesset of the fifteenth convocation Alexander Tsinker has expressed concern about the Batkivschyna United Opposition's intention to cooperate with the Svoboda All-Ukrainian Union in a new parliament.

"As a politician, personally I am concerned about results of Svoboda at the parliamentary elections in Ukraine. But I'm even more concerned not about the party getting into parliament, but by the fact that other parties, which call themselves democrats, being ready to cooperate with an obviously nationalist and anti-Semitic party," he said at a press conference hosted by Interfax-Ukraine in Kyiv on Monday.

According to Tsinker, if Svoboda becomes part of a ruling coalition, this may affect Ukraine-Israel bilateral relations.

"This fact raises concerns and alarm. It will be very difficult for us to support the very good relations that have been built recently between Israel and Ukraine. If this party joins the coalition, the question of our further relations will be raised. We will have to think about the limits and the level of relations between our countries," Tsinker said.