Moscow sends out warning letters to US- & Israeli-funded organizations
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Multiple Jewish organizations backed by Israeli and American funds received letters similar to the letter sent to the Jewish Agency.
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The Jewish Agency in Moscow.
The Russian Ministry of Justice has sent out warning letters to numerous Russian-Jewish organizations similar to the letter sent to the Jewish Agency earlier.
The letter says that the organizations may come to be considered foreign agents, which could result in its forced shutdown.
Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post reached out to one of the organizations, which claimed that "there is no change in our work in Russia."
However, the Israeli daily has understood that these organizations which function on American or Israeli money have decided to lower their profile, only conducting operations necessary or urgent.
Local Jewish organizations, however, haven't received such letters as they continue their works freely. Those organizations do not receive foreign funds or influence.
For many years now, the Jewish Agency in Russia has been under very close surveillance: “I remember participating in an aliyah conference of the agency in Russia about 7 years ago and it was closed down by The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB RF),” said one source.
“The FSB RF agents actually accompanied the Israeli participants of the conference to Israel on their flight,” the source added.
Three weeks ago, Moscow ordered the Jewish Agency to cease all its operations in Russia.
Russia's Justice Ministry stated the reason behind the closing was that the agency was illegally gathering information about Russian citizens.
Read more: Israeli PM: Closing Moscow Jewish Agency 'serious'; to affect ties
Dissolving Jewish Agency's work 'political punishment'
On Thursday, Israeli media reported "great tension between Russia and Israel", against the background of reports from Moscow about dissolving the Jewish Agency's operation in Russia, noting that this matter may be related to Prime Minister Yair Lapid's statement about the war in Ukraine.
Relations between "Israel" and Russia have witnessed tension in recent months, as the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador to Russia, Alexander Ben Zvi, against the background of a statement by Yair Lapid when he was foreign minister of the occupation last April, in which he condemned Russia's practices in Ukraine, describing them as "war crimes".
Israeli media reported on July 21 that "Israel" considers dissolving the Jewish Agency's operation in Russia a "political punishment" for "Israel's" stance on the Ukraine war.
