Orthodox priest Grozovsky suspected of pedophilia extradited from Israel to Russia

Moscow, September 7, Interfax – Russian Orthodox priest Gleb Grozovsky, who has been charged with sexually abusing minors, has been extradited from Israel to Russia at the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office request, Alexander Kurennoy, a spokesman for the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, told Interfax on Wednesday.

“Investigative bodies have charged him with committing crimes covered by Russian Criminal Code Article 132, Part 4, Clause ‘b’ (nonconsensual sexual activities, that is, other sexual activities using a victim’s helpless state committed in relation to a person under 14),” Kurennoy said.

The investigation has concluded that Grozovsky had molested several children under 14 at an Orthodox children’s camp on Konevets Island in the Priozersky District of the Leningrad Region in summer 2011, when he served as a clergyman at the Assumption (St. Sophia) Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo outside St. Petersburg.

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.