MOSCOW (Dispatches) –
Russian authorities have asked a Moscow court to liquidate a group handling the emigration of Jews to the Israeli-occupied territories in a move likely to further raise tensions with the Zionist regime fueled by Russian’s operation in Ukraine.
The Basmanniy Court scheduled a preliminary hearing for July 28 in the case, which was brought by the Justice Ministry for violations of Russian law, according to court spokeswoman Yekaterina Buravtsova.
“Russian Jews will not be held hostage by the war in Ukraine,” said Zionist diaspora affairs minister Nachman Shai. “The attempt to punish the Jewish Agency for Israel’s stance on the war is deplorable and offensive.”
Russia’s Justice Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The Jewish Agency, which has close ties to the Zionist regime, confirmed the court date but declined further comment.
Earlier this month, the group said it was continuing to operate even as Russian authorities said they found violations in a recent inspection.
Ekaterina Buravtsova, a spokeswoman for the Basmany court, was quoted as saying that the request was made after legal violations by the Zionist agency, without providing further details, according to the Interfax news agency.
The Jewish Agency, in an apparent attempt to downplay concerns over its liquidation, said in a statement that the measure was only a “preliminary hearing” and a “continuation of the legal process” that was already underway.
“As we have previously stated, we are not making any comment during the course of the legal proceedings,” the organization said.
The occupying regime is scheduled to send a delegation to Moscow next week to meet with Russian officials on the issue.
Prime minister Yair Lapid held a “situational assessment” with officials from the foreign ministry and the so-called National Security Council about the matter on Thursday, his office said.
The Jewish Agency is tasked with facilitating and encouraging immigration to the Israeli-occupied territories. People looking to immigrate to the occupied lands must submit applications through the organization. It also runs educational programs and a host of other activities.
Zionist-Russian relations have soured since the beginning of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine in late February.
Observers had already predicted that the Ukraine conflict could put the occupying regime in a difficult spot, as the Tel Aviv regime has good relations with both Moscow and Kiev.