Israeli press reports that Russia has expelled a senior Israeli diplomat on allegations of espionage and intelligence gathering, actions which violates bilateral agreements. The diplomat, Shmuel Polishuk, is based at the Israeli Embassy in Moscow.
Polishuk is the Chief Consul and local director of Nativ Liaison Bureau of the Prime Minister's Office, which seeks to encourage immigration from Russia. The diplomat returned to Israel on Tuesday after the Russian authorities gave him five days to leave the country. He is unlikely to go back.
The Russian Federal Counterintelligence Service (FSK) detained Polishuk for questioning last week. The FSK agents detained him when he was out of his office. Since he holds a diplomatic passport, he is immune from arrest or being put on trial; instead he was released and ordered to leave the country.
Israel reportedly lobbied the Russian authorities hard to prevent an official expulsion, and even made official threats of retaliatory action.
The circumstances of the expulsion have not yet been made disclosed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in response, "The Israeli emissary was not declared by the Russians as persona non grata. The issue is being clarified by the foreign ministries of friendly states, and we believe that a fair solution will be found."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 1, 2009
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