Assassin of Symon Petliura

The assassination of Symon Petliura, a Ukrainian political leader, occurred in 1926 when Sholom Schwartzbard, a Jewish anarchist, shot him in Paris. Schwartzbard believed Petliura was responsible for or complicit in anti-Jewish violence during the Ukrainian Civil War, including pogroms that caused Jewish suffering. The trial highlighted tensions between nationalistic movements and minority communities, with Schwartzbard arguing his actions were motivated by a desire for justice. He was eventually acquitted, and the case raised complex questions about collective responsibility, anti-Semitism, and justice during turbulent times.