Russia seeks court’s permission to kick Jewish Agency out of the country

The Russian government has sought permission from a Moscow court to kick the Jewish Agency for Israel out of the country after a spat over data collection and the promotion of emigration.

According to Reuters, the website of the Basmanny district court said Russia’s Ministry of Justice has requested the dissolution of the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency, giving no reasons. A hearing is scheduled for 28 July.

The Jewish Agency is an organisation supported by the Israeli government that seeks to help Jews in the diaspora who wish to move to Israel. It is the largest Jewish non-profit organisation in the world.

Russian Jews will not be held hostage by the war in Ukraine. The attempt to punish the Jewish Agency for Israel’s stance on the war is deplorable and offensive.

The court request is the latest setback in Russia-Israel bilateral relations. In April, Israel’s then foreign minister Yair Lapid accused Moscow of war crimes in Ukraine, which Russia has denied. Later, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Hitler had Jewish ancestry, angering Jerusalem.

Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai reacted strongly to news of the Moscow court filing, saying: “Russian Jews will not be held hostage by the war in Ukraine. The attempt to punish the Jewish Agency for Israel’s stance on the war is deplorable and offensive.”

Earlier this month, the Jerusalem Post reported that Russian authorities suspected the Jewish Agency of illegally gathering data on Russian citizens, while also linking the move to tensions between Israel and Russia over Ukraine and Syria.

Thousands of Russian Jews emigrate to Israel every year, according to Israeli government data, with 7,000 buying one-way tickets in 2021.