Israeli Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Against Extradition of Russian Priest

Israel's Supreme Court of Justice rejected an appeal against the order to extradite Russian priest Gleb Grozovsky, suspected of child abuse, to his homeland, Grozovsky’s attorney Haim Azencott said, adding that the failed appeal was the last resort in their arsenal.

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) – In April, Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked signed a decree to extradite Grozovsky, who is wanted in Russia on charges of sexual abuse against children. The extradition was postponed after Grozovsky’s defense appealed against the decision, requesting among other issues to guarantee the defendant security in his homeland.

"We received a refusal of the Supreme Court. It was our last resort, but it seems that the Supreme Court trusts a lot the Russian legal procedures," Azencott told RIA Novosti, adding that he has run out of means to counter the decision on Grozovsky’s extradition.

He said that he would meet with his client in the near future and together they will decide on further action.

According to Russian officials, Grozovsky in 2011 and 2013 abused several minors in children's camps in Russia’s Leningrad Region and in Greece. The cleric was put on the international wanted list in April 2014, while on a working trip to Israel.

Grozovsky was arrested by the Israeli police in September 2014. In January 2015, the Jerusalem District Court authorized his extradition to Russia on the basis of the European Convention on Extradition.

The priest insists that he is not guilty.