Russia orders Jewish Agency to stop all operations in country - exclusive
Dramatic order given to Jewish Agency by government officials in Moscow • Israeli government considering next steps
The Russian government has ordered the Jewish Agency to cease all operations inside the country, The Jerusalem Post has learned, and Russia is saying that the agency has been illegally collecting information about Russian citizens.
The order was given in a letter received from the Russian Ministry of Justice earlier this week. Officials in the Jewish Agency confirmed that the letter was received but would not comment on the response that is currently under consideration in the organization’s offices in Jerusalem in consultation with the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office.
A senior diplomatic official said on Tuesday that "Russia is saying the Jewish agency illegally collected info about Russian citizens."
The source added that "We will bring up the Jewish Agency [with Russian authorities] and address it in an organized way. It will be taken care of at the embassy level." The official added that "we don't totally understand the reasoning [of the request to stop Jewish Agency's activities in Russia].
"As part of the work of the Jewish Agency's delegation in Russia, we are occasionally required to make certain adjustments, as required by authorities," the Jewish Agency said in response to a query from the Post. "The contacts with the authorities take place continuously, with the aim of continuing our activities in accordance with the rules set by the competent bodies. Even nowadays, such a dialogue takes place."
"People from the Jewish community have been feeling the Iron Curtain setting on them and they fear they won't be able to escape the country."
Senior sources
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-711227