MOSCOW (JNS) — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov said on Tuesday that a prisoner exchange deal for an Israeli-American woman being held in Russia on drug charges is not being considered.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
“As far as I know, an exchange option is not being looked at,” he said, according to Russia’s Tass news agency.
“[Naama Issachar] was convicted on criminal charges,” Ivanov continued. “As for [Issachar’s] complaints with the European Court of Human Rights, it is the job of her attorneys. We can advise nothing about that. It is her right.”
The 27-year-old was arrested by Russian authorities after 10 grams of cannabis were found in her luggage during a layover in Moscow in April. She was sentenced to seven and a half years for drug trafficking.
It is widely believed the heavy sentence may have been designed to pressure Israel into not extraditing a Russian cyber-criminal to the United States.
Ivanov’s comments come days after Israel released two Syrian prisoners in what analysts say was a goodwill gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Sunday, Issachar received a letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who promised to do everything in his power to secure her release. “Our people have always been characterized by a heritage of mutual guarantee—we do not abandon anyone to his fate, and so it is in your case. The State of Israel and I are making constant efforts for your release,” he wrote.
The letter was sent just a week before President Putin is slated to travel to Israel, with many hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough during the visit.
Yehmach shmo Putin
It was defitelly a set up by Putin. Why a luggadge of a transit passenger was surched when the passenger was in a transit zone?! She was targeted by KGB and a small amount of cannabis was inserted in her lugadge. It was a very calculated set up to exchange her for a Russian criminal arrested in Israel and waiting for extradiction to USA. However, the Puton sceme is not surprfising. Whats really surprising is a complete lack of support from Israel , USA, and jewish organizations. Israel can not protect its citizen?! Is it a joke?1 Why Israeli state was created?! Jewish activist like Sharansky only care about their honorariums for speaches and books.?! Everything is about the money and their pet projects!!!! Israelis continue to flfly through MOscow just to save money. Everything about money and their careers. Complete degradation of jewish values.
Yitz, I don’t mind telling you that you have a complete lack of brains, for bad mouthing Putin. This matter is not going to be resolved by your cursing Putin out, online. Putin has done more for the Russian Jewish community, than any other Russian head of state. Yiddishkeit is flourishing in Russia. I remember the days in the Soviet Union, when Brit Milahs were prohibited, the teaching of Hebrew was also not permitted, Shuls were closed, dancing in the streets on Simchat Torah, was met with brute force by the KGB, the baking of Matzah on Pesach was prohibited, emigration to Israel was prohibited or severely restricted, Jews were routinely arrested, and charged with “economic crimes, and sent to Siberia, etc. Now, Putin has very good relations with Israel, and with the Russian-Israeli community. It wasn’t that long ago, that he discovered that his former high school teacher (a Jewish woman), who taught him German was living in Israel, and having financial difficulties. He bought her an apartment, which must have cost close to $1,000,000; therefore, the next time that your tongue gets the better of you, think of the above.
Yitz and Nachum. You are both right.