On 23 January 2017, he publicly claimed that "grandchildren of those who sprang ... across the Pale of Settlement with Nagants in 1917 and were destroying our churches ... today they are working in revered places like radio stations and legislatory assemblies and are continuing that work." Being publicly accused of antisemitism,Еврейская община прокомментировала слова Толстого об Исаакиевском соборе // РБК, 24.01.2017Вице-спикер Госдумы, доказывая необходимость передачи Исаакия Церкви, допустил антисемитское высказываниеВ парламенте Израиля отреагировали на слова Толстого о "черте оседлости" //Интерфакс 24.01.2017 he later denied any such context in his words.
