The Russian Ministry of Justice requested the liquidation of the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency, a non-profit organization that promotes immigration to Israel.
A Russian court stated that the ministry filed the request on July 15, noting that it would be discussed on July 28. The court did not provide any reason for launching the case.
“The court received a lawsuit filed by the main department of the Ministry of Justice in Moscow requesting the dissolution of the… Jewish Agency,” the court said in a statement that was carried by the Russian outlet RIA.
The move against the Jerusalem-based agency, follows criticism by Israel of the Russian invasion of Ukraine as Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid accused Moscow of carrying out war crimes.
In a statement, the Jewish Agency affirmed that this 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.
"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," Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai said in response to news of the court filing.
“The Jews of Russia cannot be detached from their historical and emotional connection to the State of Israel,” the minister added.
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