Extradition of Russian priest accused of pedophilia from Israel suspended - lawyer

RAPSI
May 17, 2016

http://www.rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20160517/276115883.html

MOSCOW, May 17 (RAPSI) – According to the lawyer defending Gleb Grozovsky, a St. Petersburg priest, the extradition of his client from Israel could be suspended via an appeal against the actions undertaken by the Israeli Justice Ministry submitted to the country’s Supreme Court and request to guarantee the defendant security in his homeland, RIA Novosti news agency reports on Tuesday.

A month ago Israeli Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked has signed an order on extradition of Russian priest Gleb Grozovsky, who stands charged with sexual abuse of children. The priest insists that he is not guilty of this crime.

According to Grozovsky’s lawyer Haim Azencott, the extradition process has been suspended until the other party submits a reply to his complaint requesting the court to examine again the defendant’s allegations that he will be in danger after returning to Russia, and that the Israeli Justice Ministry failed to take properly his client’s case.

The lawyer hopes that the Israeli Supreme Court will hold respective hearings allowing him to present his arguments that the key element of any extradition procedures should be measures necessary to guarantee security and fair trial for the extradited person.

According to Russian investigators, Grozovsky committed sex crimes against several minors in 2011 and 2013.

In 2013, he fled to Israel where he applied for citizenship. However, his application was dismissed.

In April 2014, Grozovsky was put on the international wanted list. Israeli police arrested him in September. In January 2015, a court in Jerusalem ruled that the priest should be extradited to Russia pursuant to the European Convention on Extradition.

The ruling was appealed, but rejected. In April, the Justice Minister signed an order on Grozovsky’s extradition. Nevertheless, according to defense, the charges against Grozovsky are politically motivated and the Convention provisions could not apply to him.