Russian-Jewish oligarch Kantor elected president of European Jewish Congress for fifth time
21.05.2025
The European Jewish Congress (EJC) elected Russian businessman Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor as its president for the fifth time, the press service of the EJC president reported.
"At the EJC General Assembly held today in Jerusalem, delegates from more than 40 representative Jewish organizations from all over the continent elected Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor as president by almost two-thirds of the votes," the press service of the EJC president reported.
"Solidarity and unity among European Jews are equally important at this time. We must constantly work together, helping local communities, respecting their autonomy and consulting on all issues. I am very grateful to all the friends who supported me in difficult times, and I hope to cooperate with them and with all our communities for the benefit of all European Jews," the Kantor press service quotes.
Kantor noted that solidarity with the State of Israel is the "fundamental principle of the EJC".
"Now it's time for unity, not division. And in times of crisis, we are obliged to act with all responsibility. That is why I clearly state: we will never criticize the State of Israel in the international media. We may have disagreements, like any true friends. But we express our opinion respectfully, confidentially and necessarily prudently," said the President of the EJC.
The European Jewish Congress (EJC) was established in 1986 and is the only representative body of Jewish communities throughout Europe. The EJC works with national governments, EU institutions and the Council of Europe. The EJC headquarters is located in Brussels. The EJC unites and coordinates the work of more than 40 national Jewish communities in Europe, numbering more than two million Jews.
In 2007-2022, the president of the European Jewish Congress was Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor. He was re-elected to this post in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 for a four-year term. The European Union excluded Kantor from the sanctions list on March 15.