Priest Grozovsky expected to be delivered to Moscow from Israel on Wednesday evening

Tel Aviv/Moscow, September 7, Interfax – The Orthodox priest Gleb Grozovsky, whose extradition from Israel is being sought by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, is expected to be delivered to Moscow on Wednesday evening, a source familiar with the situation told Interfax.

“A regular flight carrying the Russian [Grozovsky] accused of pedophilia is due to arrive at Sheremetyevo at around 6 p.m.,” the source said.

The priest was handed over to a group of representatives from the Prosecutor General’s Office and Federal Penitentiary Service, which flew to Israel a few days ago, he said.

It was reported that in February the Supreme Court of Israel issued a final ruling to extradite Grozovsky, accused of sexually abusing children, to Russia.

According to the inquiry, in the summer of 2011 Grozovsky, who then was a cleric at the Ascension (St. Sophia) Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo, sexually abused several individuals under 14 years of age on the grounds of an Orthodox children’s camp on Konevets Island, Priozyorsky District, Leningrad Region.

According to the inquiry, Grozovsky committed similar acts at Philadelphia, an Orthodox children’s and youth club, where he was rector of John the Warrior Church, in Greece in June 2013.

Since Grozovsky absconded, in October 2013 he was arrested in absentia and placed on the international wanted list. According to the priest himself, he was posted to Israel. In November 2013, the Gatchina Diocese said it had terminated Grozovsky’s posting and suspended him for the duration of the inquiry.