This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51301827

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Naama Issachar: US-Israeli woman released from Russian prison Naama Issachar: US-Israeli woman released from Russian prison
(about 2 hours later)
Russia has released a dual US-Israeli national who was detained on charges of drug trafficking last year.Russia has released a dual US-Israeli national who was detained on charges of drug trafficking last year.
Naama Issachar, 26, was arrested in Moscow in April 2019 after more than nine grams of marijuana were found in her luggage. She was later sentenced to more than seven years in prison.Naama Issachar, 26, was arrested in Moscow in April 2019 after more than nine grams of marijuana were found in her luggage. She was later sentenced to more than seven years in prison.
President Putin pardoned Issachar on Wednesday.President Putin pardoned Issachar on Wednesday.
The decision came ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Moscow on Thursday.The decision came ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Moscow on Thursday.
Mr Netanyahu thanked his "friend" Mr Putin for the decision to pardon Issachar.Mr Netanyahu thanked his "friend" Mr Putin for the decision to pardon Issachar.
A statement from the prison service said: "Due to the presidential decree on pardoning, Naama Issachar has been freed from prison." He later posted a video on social media of him meeting Issachar with the message: "Naama, we're going home." They then left for Israel on the prime minister's plane.
Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported Issachar would return on Mr Netanyahu's plane following his meeting on Thursday. "Finally, thank God, thanks to everyone," her mother, Yaffa Issachar, said.
Her mother, Yaffa Issachar confirmed to Israeli media in Russia that her daughter had been released.
"Finally, thank God, thanks to everyone," she said.
Israeli media have reported that the Israeli government was willing to relinquish ownership of a complex in Jerusalem - symbolic to the Russian Orthodox Church - as a goodwill gesture ahead of Issachar's release.Israeli media have reported that the Israeli government was willing to relinquish ownership of a complex in Jerusalem - symbolic to the Russian Orthodox Church - as a goodwill gesture ahead of Issachar's release.
Ownership of the Alexander Courtyard, which lies in Jerusalem's Old City near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, has been disputed for decades, but an Israeli court recently ruled in Russia's favour.Ownership of the Alexander Courtyard, which lies in Jerusalem's Old City near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, has been disputed for decades, but an Israeli court recently ruled in Russia's favour.
Naama Issachar was returning from a trip to India when she was detained.Naama Issachar was returning from a trip to India when she was detained.
Her case gained widespread attention in Israel, with local media accusing Moscow of using it to pressure Israel over a jailed Russian hacker, whose extradition was requested by both the US and Russian governments.Her case gained widespread attention in Israel, with local media accusing Moscow of using it to pressure Israel over a jailed Russian hacker, whose extradition was requested by both the US and Russian governments.
The hacker, Aleksey Burkov, was extradited to the US in November.The hacker, Aleksey Burkov, was extradited to the US in November.