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In April 2019 in Sheremetyevo International Airport, Russian authorities arrested Israeli-American Naama Issachar ( he, נעמה יששכר), a transit passenger flying from India to Israel, for alleged drug smuggling after some 10 grams of marijuana or hashish were found in her bag during a stopover in Moscow. On 11 October 2019 a Russian court sentenced her to seven and a half years in prison on drug possession and smuggling charges.
Issachar's family and Israeli officials said that Russia told them she would be released if Aleksey Burkov (russian: Алексей Бурков), a Russian national pending extradition from Israel to the United States on suspicion of committing cyber crimes, was released to Russia. Israeli Prime Minister 
On 19 October 2019 rallies were held in Tel Aviv and in New York City calling for Issachar's release. Billboards were put up in Israel calling on Putin to "please bring Naama home."
In December 2019, the Israeli Justice Ministry transferred the historical in Jerusalem to the Putin-allied Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society from the competing Imperial Orthodox Palestine ''Historic'' Society, which many commentators linked to negotiating Issachar's release.
On 29 January 2020 President Putin signed her pardon. Her attorney previously noted that no convicted foreigner was ever pardoned by a Russian President before.
The official site of the headquarter for Naama's liberation (English, Hebrew, Russian)
Israel–Russia relations 2019 in Israel 2019 in Russia 2020 in Israel 2020 in Russia 2020 crimes in Russia {{Israel-stub
In April 2019 in Sheremetyevo International Airport, Russian authorities arrested Israeli-American Naama Issachar ( he, נעמה יששכר), a transit passenger flying from India to Israel, for alleged drug smuggling after some 10 grams of marijuana or hashish were found in her bag during a stopover in Moscow. On 11 October 2019 a Russian court sentenced her to seven and a half years in prison on drug possession and smuggling charges.
Issachar's family and Israeli officials said that Russia told them she would be released if Aleksey Burkov (russian: Алексей Бурков), a Russian national pending extradition from Israel to the United States on suspicion of committing cyber crimes, was released to Russia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (; ; born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who served as the ninth prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. He is currently serving as Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of ...
subsequently personally requested from Russian President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...
a pardon for Issachar, which Putin said he would consider. Israel's High Court ultimately rejected Burkov's appeal against his extradition, leading Russia to condemn the decision as "a breach ... of Israel's international obligations", stating that the decision "does not contribute to the development of ussian-Israelirelations".
On 19 October 2019 rallies were held in Tel Aviv and in New York City calling for Issachar's release. Billboards were put up in Israel calling on Putin to "please bring Naama home."
In December 2019, the Israeli Justice Ministry transferred the historical in Jerusalem to the Putin-allied Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society from the competing Imperial Orthodox Palestine ''Historic'' Society, which many commentators linked to negotiating Issachar's release.
On 29 January 2020 President Putin signed her pardon. Her attorney previously noted that no convicted foreigner was ever pardoned by a Russian President before.
See also
*Israel–Russia relations
Israel–Russia relations are the bilateral ties between the State of Israel and the Russian Federation. Israel is represented in Russia through an embassy in Moscow and a consulate-general (to be opened) in Yekaterinburg. Russia is represen ...
* Ilan Grapel affair
The Ilan Grapel affair was an alleged Israeli espionage incident in Egypt involving dual U.S.-Israeli citizen Ilan Grapel. On 12 June 2011, Egyptian authorities arrested Grapel on charges of fomenting unrest in Egypt as a Mossad agent in the wake ...
* Brittney Griner
Brittney Yevette Griner (; born October 18, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women's natio ...
- an American citizen detained in Russia on similar charges
Further reading
*References
External links
The official site of the headquarter for Naama's liberation (English, Hebrew, Russian)
Israel–Russia relations 2019 in Israel 2019 in Russia 2020 in Israel 2020 in Russia 2020 crimes in Russia {{Israel-stub