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Jerusalem’s district court to hold hearing on extradition of priest Grozovsky to Russia

TEL AVIV, November 30 /TASS/. Jerusalem’s District Court will hold the first hearing on extradition of Priest Gleb Grozovsky to Russia, a source at Israel’s prosecutor’s office told TASS.

Grozovsky, the former spiritual adviser of St. Petersburg-based Zenith football club, is suspected of committing a number of crimes, including violent sexual actions against a person younger than 14 years old by taking advantage of his helpless state.

Grozovsky has been staying in Israel since 2013. A Russian court has issued a warrant for his arrest in absentia and has put him on the international wanted list.

In April 2014, Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office sent a request to Israel’s Ministry of Justice to extradite Grozovsky to Russia where he would be put to trial.

Grozovsky will face a fourth hearing in Jerusalem on Sunday. During the three previous hearings the judge tried to establish a measure of restraint for Grozovsky. Grozovsky has been kept in custody in a Haifa prison since Israel arrested him at the Russian side’s request. He will be escorted to the courtroom from Haifa in handcuffs.

Israel’s prosecutors asked the District Court of Jerusalem for authorization to start an extradition case against Grozovsky after he had been arrested in Israel.

On September 23, the court extended Grozovsky’s stay in custody for ten days till October 2 at his lawyer’s request. The judge listened to the prosecutors on October 2 and said he would make a decision at the next hearing.

On October 7, the judge upheld the measure of restraint for Grozovsky and left the St. Petersburg priest in custody until the end of extradition hearings.

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