Siberia – Russian authorities have ordered the deportation of an Israeli rabbi on the grounds of possible espionage.
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Haaretz (http://bit.ly/1x5WmHU) reports that Rabbi Asher Krichevsky, who worked in Omsk in southern Siberia for 13 years as the Chabad emissary, was ordered to leave the country without explanation, but local Russian media raised questions regarding Krichevsky working as a spy for Israel.
Last month, Krichevsky was fined for carrying unlicensed kosher wine and food products past their expiration dates in grocery stores operating under his assistance.
Speculations regarding the reason for deportation range from anti-Western initiatives in Omsk to the Ukrainian conflict, where Chabad rabbis work closely with the government there who oppose the Russian invasion.
Spokesmen for the rabbi had no comment.
Information taken from Haaretz
Because there is no one better suited for spying than a Chassid with a beard, hat and tzitzis. I don’t even know why they bother inventing a cover story that no one believes.
There’s nothing in Siberia worth spying on!
At least they didn’t throw him in prison as they used to do with Lubavitchers in the days of the tsars and communists..
I love it when totalitarian monsters start calling the most random people “spies.” What was he reporting on, snow?
Reminds me of the Iran 13. As Faoud Ajami pointed out, there was no military base nearby, it was a cultural and religious backwater, and of no strategic value. They just went after Jews (whom they released soon thereafter; real threats to nat security).
Maybe Berel Lazar can call up Putry Pute and get him sprung.