Israeli Court Rules Extradition of Russian Priest Suspected of Pedophilia

Jerusalem Court has apporved the extradition of the Russian priest suspected of pedophilia to Russia.

JERUSALEM, January 19 (Sputnik) — The Jerusalem District Court approved on Monday the extradition to Russia of Gleb Grozovsky, the Russian Orthodox priest suspected of pedophilia, following a four months investigation.

“I consider him subject to extradition. He will remain in prison until the extradition,” the judge said on Monday.

During the investigation, Grozovsky’s defendants have repeatedly stated that the priest is wanted in Russia for political and religious motives, so he should not be extradited. However, the judge argued that that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims.

“Statements that he was pursued in Russia need proof, which I have not seen yet,” the judge added.

Grozovsky’s attorney stated that he was not surprised by the Israeli court’s decision, but added that they will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights and the Israeli Supreme Court.

“Until this process ends, he will remain in Israel,” Grozovsky’s attorney said.

Grozovsky, 34, is suspected of abusing two girls, aged 9 and 12, in June 2013 at a hotel on the grounds of the Philadelphia Orthodox travel club on the Greek island of Kos, as well as of committing “a range of similar crimes in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region,” according to Russia’s Investigative Committee. In 2013, he was put on an international wanted list upon Russia’s request.

As the formal investigation started, Grozovsky decided to remain in Israel, where he was on vacation at the time. On September 22, 2014, he was detained by Interpol in Israel, after almost a year of attempts to obtain Israeli citizenship.

Grozovsky himself claims to be innocent.