WWW III ON THE WAY? Jews 'ordered to register & list property' in Ukraine city taken over by pro-Russian militants

Jews have reportedly been told to 'register' with pro-Russian forces in the east Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

They were also told they would need to provide a list of property they own as well as being ordered to pay a fee or face the threat of deportation.

U.S. officials in Washington say leaflets bearing the chilling order have recently appeared in the city amid pro and anti-Russian protests as tensions rise in the area.

It comes after Jews leaving a synagogue in the city of Donetsk were reportedly told they had to 'register' with Ukranians trying to make the city part of Russia.

Sinister: A leaflet distributed in Donetsk, Ukraine calling for all Jews over 16 years old to 'register'. The leaflet also demanded the city's Jews supply a detailed list of all the property they own, or else have their citizenship revoked

United States Secretary of State John Kerry has condemned the distribution of leaflets in eastern Ukraine demanding that Jews identify themselves.

Mr Kerry described the leaflets as 'grotesque and beyond unacceptable' as he hit out at instances of religious intolerance that have been inflaming tensions in the nation.

The State Department says it is looking into who is responsible but takes the threat seriously no matter who is behind the leaflets.

Mr Kerry, who is currently in Geneva for talks on Ukraine, also denounced apparent threats to members of the Russian Orthodox Church from members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

He said no such behavior could be tolerated. it is not yet clear who exactly is responsible for producing the leaflets.

According to USA Today, the leaflet says all people of Jewish descent over 16 should report to the Commissioner for Nationalities in the Donetsk Regional Administration building and 'register.'

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (left), seen here with Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov earlier today, has blasted the leaflets as 'grotesque and beyond unacceptable'

John Kerry condemns Ukraine leaflets to ID Jews

It goes on to explain that the reason for this is that leaders of the Jewish community of Ukraine supported Bendery Junta in reference to the leader of a nationalist group fighting for independence at the end of the Second World War.

The letter features the flag of the so-called Donetsk Republic, a self-proclaimed state declared earlier this month by several hundred activists who occupied the Regional Administration Building and the City Hall buildings in the city.

In March leaders of Ukraine’s Jewish communities published an open letter denouncing Russian anit-semitism and criticising Putin.

The Kiev-based Vaad of Ukraine is an umbrella group that says it supports '265 Jewish organizations from 94 cities of Ukraine'.

The letter, written in Russian and co-signed by 21 Jewish leaders — including the Vaad leadership, supports Ukrainian sovereignty 'in the name of national minorities and Ukraine’s Jewish community.'

Putin has justified his military action by claiming that he is acting to protect Ukraine’s Russian-speaking population and claims that Ukraine’s new government is composed of 'fascists and neo-Nazis'.

Tension: A Ukrainian soldier at a road block on the outskirts of Izyum, Eastern Ukraine

A pro-Russia activist stands guard in front of the flag of the so-called Donetsk Republic in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk today. The flag appears on the letter

Pro-Russian armed soldiers pictured on a tank in front of the Slavyansk City Hall in Ukraine. Pro-Russian protesters have occupied the government buildings in eastern cities such as Donetsk and Luhansk, declaring independence from the capital Kiev

But the letter, claiming to represent Russian-speaking Jews, said: 'Your certainty about the growth of anti-Semitism in Ukraine, which you expressed at your press conference, also does not correspond to the actual facts,'

'Perhaps you got Ukraine confused with Russia, where Jewish organizations have noticed growth in anti-Semitic tendencies last year.'

During the Soviet era, the Soviet Union and countries within its sphere of influence were accused of persecuting Jews. Josef Stalin was said by numerous sources to despise Jews and under Brezhnev Jews faced discrimination.

Mr Kerry has been attending a conference on the unfolding crisis in Ukraine.

Parties including representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the European Union, issued a joint statement which read: 'The participants strongly condemned and rejected all expressions of extremism, racism and religious intolerance, including anti-semitism.'

Jewish groups have expressed their concern over growing anti-semitism in Russia. Pictured, Russian ultra nationalists make Nazi signs during a rally in Moscow in 1998

'REPORT TO US': THE LETTER TELLING JEWS TO REGISTER

TRANSLATION IN FULL - Independent Donetsk Republic, General Staff

Dear citizens of Jewish nationality:

Leaflet allegedly instructing all Jewish people to register

Taking into consideration the fact that the leaders of Jewish community of Ukraine has supported banderovtsy’s Junta in Kiev, and have been hostile to Orthodox Donetsk Republic and its citizens, the General Staff of Donetsk People’s Republic has decreed the following:

All citizens of Jewish nationality who are older than 16 years-old that have been living within the territory of Sovereign Donetsk Republic should attend acting Commissioner for nationalities affairs in Donetsk Regional Government Department, office 514 for registration before 03 May 2014. The registration fees are 50 USD.

You should bring the amount of 50 USD for registration fees, passports for marking the confession of faith, documents showing family members, entitling documents for title to real property and transport facilities.

In case of attempts to avoid the registration, the subject persons’ citizenship will be revoked with their subsequent enforced deportation outside Donetsk Republic including the forfeiture of their property.

Stamp with Donetsk People’s Republic

Yours People’s Governor – Denis Pushilin

-Dailymail