Russian tycoon reinstated as European Jewish Congress president
Russian entrepreneur and philanthropist Moshe (Vyacheslav) Kantor has been overwhelmingly re-elected as president of the European Jewish Congress (EJC), securing nearly two-thirds of the vote in a general assembly held Tuesday in Jerusalem.
Kantor, who previously served as EJC president from 2007 until 2022, was forced to step down during his fourth term after being placed on multiple international sanctions lists in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. With the European Union and Switzerland removing Kantor from their respective sanctions earlier this year, he returned to the race and defeated interim president Ariel Muzicant of Austria.
Kantor, who also holds British and Israeli citizenship, emphasized the urgency of his return in light of growing antisemitism and increasing polarization in Europe.
'What we are witnessing is not only a threat to Jewish communities, it is a threat to the very foundations of European democracies,' Kantor told delegates. 'If left unchecked, this growing hatred will erode the social fabric of our societies. We are already seeing increased polarization as the extremes gain strength and moderation is pushed aside.'
The EJC represents over 40 Jewish national organizations and more than two million Jews across Europe. Headquartered in Brussels, the organization engages in advocacy on issues ranging from antisemitism and Holocaust memory to interfaith dialogue and minority rights.
Kantor pledged to expand the EJC's work, stressing the importance of unity with Israel and noting that the October 7 terrorist attack had reshaped how European Jews view their place in the world.
'After October 7, every Jew in Europe knows that his or her destiny is absolutely tied to the destiny of the Jewish state,' Kantor said. He reaffirmed that the EJC would remain fully supportive of Israel, stating: 'We will never criticize Israel in international media. We may have concerns, like any true friend. But we express them respectfully, privately and always with care.'
Kantor also thanked his opponent Muzicant for 'his devoted leadership in these recent difficult years,' and called for renewed unity across the Jewish diaspora.
Muzicant had urged Kantor not to run again due to his ongoing presence on certain national sanctions lists, such as those maintained by the UK, Poland, and Estonia. However, Kantor's supporters insisted he was the most experienced and impactful candidate to lead the organization.
Kantor's net worth is estimated at $9.5 billion by Forbes, largely stemming from his leadership of Acron, a major Russian fertilizer producer. Beyond his EJC role, Kantor is known for decades of philanthropic and civic work. He founded the World Holocaust Forum and previously served on the boards of Yad Vashem and Tel Aviv University. He also led the Russian Jewish Congress from 2005 to 2009 and established the European Jewish Fund.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Russia Today
Israel ‘almost a Russian-speaking country'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized Israel's large Russian-speaking population as one of the key factors in Moscow's approach to the ongoing Middle East conflict – alongside Russia's own Muslim population and traditionally friendly relations with the Islamic world. Speaking at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Thursday, Putin said those who question Russia's commitment to its partners are 'provocateurs' attempting to stir discord. The Russian leader underscored the complexity of the Iran-Israel conflict, cautioning against one-size-fits-all expectations of alliances. 'Every conflict is unique,' he said, outning Russia's nuanced relationships across the region. Putin highlighted the presence of nearly two million Russian-speaking residents in Israel. 'It is almost a Russian-speaking country today. And, undoubtedly, we always take this into account in Russia's contemporary history,' he said. At the same time, he emphasized Russia's 'friendly, trusting, and allied' relations with the Arab and Islamic world, which include 15% of Russia's own population and participation as an observer in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Russian president reiterated his country's support for Iran's right to a peaceful nuclear program – stressing that this support is not merely rhetorical, but demonstrated through concrete cooperation. 'We defend Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy not just in words, but in action,' he said. 'Despite all the complexity of the situation around Iran, we built a nuclear reactor in Bushehr... And despite all the challenges and certain risks, we continue this work.' Putin dismissed criticism that Russia should have done more to support Iran. 'Start some kind of combat operations, is that it?' he asked rhetorically. 'We already have combat operations going on against those whom we consider opponents of the ideas we defend and who pose a threat to the Russian Federation,' he added, noting that these opponents are 'far behind the frontline' and are 'basically the same forces – with Iran and in the case of Russia.' According to the Kremlin, Putin has a 'complete picture' of the situation, as one of the few leaders to speak directly with the heads of Israel, Iran, and the United States since the conflict flared up last week. In a late-night Q&A session on Wednesday, Putin told journalists that Moscow had proposed several compromise frameworks to all parties, suggesting that any potential settlement should include mutual security guarantees – protecting both Iran's right to peaceful nuclear technology and Israel's right to security. While reaffirming support for Iran's legitimate interests, Putin clarified on Friday that Russia is not seeking to act as a mediator in the Iran-Israel conflict. 'We are simply offering ideas. Should these proposals resonate with both nations, we would be pleased,' he said, adding that he sees potential 'points of contact' between Tehran and West Jerusalem.
Russia Today
06-06-2025
- Russia Today
Putin backs global Russian language center
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he fully backs the idea of creating a centralized organization to promote and support the use of the Russian language internationally. The idea was proposed by Nikita Gusev, the warden of the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute, during meeting of the State Council on language promotion. 'It is a good suggestion. I think it must certainly be considered,' Putin, who chaired the meeting, said. The president added that he would instruct his administration and the Russian government to look into the project and provide support for it. Putin said the authorities in Moscow are already working on promoting the Russian language abroad 'through various channels,' but that these activities would further benefit from the creation of 'a dedicated center.' 'We must work diligently to strengthen the position of the Russian language and to enhance Russia's significance in the global cultural space,' the president told the participants of the video-conference. The meeting took place on the eve of Russian Language Day, which is marked on June 6, the birthday of Aleksandr Pushkin, a 19th-century poet, novelist and playwright, considered the founder of modern Russian literature. 'One of the most effective ways to promote the Russian language and literature, both within our country and abroad, is through meaningful and wide-ranging celebrations of significant anniversaries linked to great Russian writers,' Putin stressed. According to the Pushkin Institute, Russian was the ninth most-widely used language in the world in 2014, with over 255 million people speaking it.
Russia Today
21-05-2025
- Russia Today
Russian tycoon reinstated as European Jewish Congress president
Russian entrepreneur and philanthropist Moshe (Vyacheslav) Kantor has been overwhelmingly re-elected as president of the European Jewish Congress (EJC), securing nearly two-thirds of the vote in a general assembly held Tuesday in Jerusalem. Kantor, who previously served as EJC president from 2007 until 2022, was forced to step down during his fourth term after being placed on multiple international sanctions lists in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. With the European Union and Switzerland removing Kantor from their respective sanctions earlier this year, he returned to the race and defeated interim president Ariel Muzicant of Austria. Kantor, who also holds British and Israeli citizenship, emphasized the urgency of his return in light of growing antisemitism and increasing polarization in Europe. 'What we are witnessing is not only a threat to Jewish communities, it is a threat to the very foundations of European democracies,' Kantor told delegates. 'If left unchecked, this growing hatred will erode the social fabric of our societies. We are already seeing increased polarization as the extremes gain strength and moderation is pushed aside.' The EJC represents over 40 Jewish national organizations and more than two million Jews across Europe. Headquartered in Brussels, the organization engages in advocacy on issues ranging from antisemitism and Holocaust memory to interfaith dialogue and minority rights. Kantor pledged to expand the EJC's work, stressing the importance of unity with Israel and noting that the October 7 terrorist attack had reshaped how European Jews view their place in the world. 'After October 7, every Jew in Europe knows that his or her destiny is absolutely tied to the destiny of the Jewish state,' Kantor said. He reaffirmed that the EJC would remain fully supportive of Israel, stating: 'We will never criticize Israel in international media. We may have concerns, like any true friend. But we express them respectfully, privately and always with care.' Kantor also thanked his opponent Muzicant for 'his devoted leadership in these recent difficult years,' and called for renewed unity across the Jewish diaspora. Muzicant had urged Kantor not to run again due to his ongoing presence on certain national sanctions lists, such as those maintained by the UK, Poland, and Estonia. However, Kantor's supporters insisted he was the most experienced and impactful candidate to lead the organization. Kantor's net worth is estimated at $9.5 billion by Forbes, largely stemming from his leadership of Acron, a major Russian fertilizer producer. Beyond his EJC role, Kantor is known for decades of philanthropic and civic work. He founded the World Holocaust Forum and previously served on the boards of Yad Vashem and Tel Aviv University. He also led the Russian Jewish Congress from 2005 to 2009 and established the European Jewish Fund.
