From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 20, 2020
Russia: ‘Highly likely’ Issachar pardon to be discussed in Putin-Netanyahu meet
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleA Kremlin spokesman says it is “highly likely” that the topic of Naama Issachar, an Israeli-American backpacker sentenced to 7.5 years in prison over several grams of marijuana, will be raised during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting this week in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“It is highly likely that this topic will be raised during [Putin’s] upcoming contacts with Mr. Netanyahu,” Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, tells journalists, according to the TASS news agency.
However, when asked about possible pardoning of Issachar — widely expected in Israel — Peskov says, “we never announce such matters.” But he notes the Kremlin is aware the matter is a high-profile topic in the Jewish state, according to the report.
The Times of Israel Community.