Russian lawmaker sparks controversy by calling Cheburashka “likely Jewish”

Russian State Duma deputy and head of the budget and tax committee Andrei Makarov sparked outrage during a budget debate after suggesting that Cheburashka, the beloved Soviet cartoon character, was “probably Jewish.”

Makarov argued that according to the original story, Cheburashka arrived in the USSR in a crate of oranges, which at the time were imported from Israel. When colleagues objected that the fruit could have come from Morocco or Spain, he replied that Morocco exported mandarins and the USSR did not trade with Spain in those years.

“Theoretically, Cheburashka could have been a Palestinian Arab, but most likely, he was Jewish,” Makarov said.

The remarks triggered a wave of reactions in Russian media and social networks. Prominent TV host Vladimir Solovyov and the widow of writer Eduard Uspensky, who created Cheburashka, joined the debate. Observers say the dispute highlights deep cultural and identity tensions within Russian society.

Meanwhile, in the UK, Channel 4 aired a documentary on Hitler’s DNA, confirming his Austro-German ancestry and debunking rumors of Jewish roots. The film also revealed evidence of Kallmann syndrome, a genetic condition that may explain aspects of Hitler’s life and personality.