FJCR doesn't link Issachar's possible pardon to handover of Alexander Metochion to Russia
MOSCOW. Jan 24 (Interfax) - President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (FJCR) Alexander Boroda has said he would not link a possible decision to pardon Israeli citizen Naama Issachar, convicted by a Russian court of drug smuggling, to the handover of the Alexander Metochion in Jerusalem to Russia.
"The process of handing over the metochion to Russia will take longer than one day or one month [...]. Of course, it is a good, friendly gesture on the part of Israel, but I wouldn't link this directly to the pardon/non-pardon and the fate of one Israeli woman, who has found herself in this not very pleasant situation. I wouldn't link these steps," Boroda said at a press conference in Moscow on Friday in reply to relevant questions from reporters.
At the same time, he said that he could not speak with absolute certainty about the various political and technical procedures related to Issachar.