Suspected Pedophile Priest Could Face Extradition From Israel to Russia

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Israel could provide the Russian side with the documents required for the extradition of Gleb Grozovsky, a Russian Orthodox priest suspected of pedophilia, in the first half of May, spokesman for the Russian Prosecutor General's Office Alexander Kurennoy said Friday.

In January 2015, the Jerusalem District Court approved Grozovsky's extradition to Russia.

"[Our] colleagues from Israel have confirmed that the extradition papers were signed on April 11. But the defense has a 30-day period to appeal the decision. If it does not make any procedural steps during this term, then after it [has elapsed] Israel will send official documents about their readiness to pass Grozovsky to us," Kurennoy told RIA Novosti.

Grozovsky, 34, is suspected of abusing two girls, aged 9 and 12, in June 2013 at a hotel on the grounds of a Orthodox youth 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 at Russia's request.

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