The chief rabbi of Siberia faces deportation after reportedly losing a court battle against Russian authorities in a national security case shrouded in secrecy.
Asher Krichevsky, the chief rabbi of Siberia and Omsk, appealed to the court last month after Russian authorities revoked his residence permit. The rabbi was not informed why his permit was annulled, the anti-extremism group Sova Center said.
“The nuances of the case are unknown, but a preliminary version has it that some of his actions, threatening national security and the constitutional order, served as grounds for Krichevsky’s deportation,” the Superomsk news website reported Tuesday.
According to Sova Center, the regional Interior Ministry refused to say why the rabbi faces expulsion in the closed-doors hearing, explaining only that the decision was based on secret Federal Security Services (FSB) documents.
Krichevsky successfully appealed previous efforts to deport him in 2014.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
