Naama Issachar’s mother cancels petition request against Russian hacker

Yafa Issachar, mother of Israeli citizen Naama Issachar, who is currently imprisoned in Russia for transporting 9.5 grams of cannabis, sent a request on Tuesday to Justice Minister Amir Ohana seeking to cancel her petition for placing a stay on Russian hacker Alexei Burkov’s extradition to the United States for series of financial cybercrimes.

Issachar noted that “after much contemplation, I decided to cancel appealing the Supreme Court of the State of Israel’s decision  to extradite Burkov. Naama will not be a tool for the Russian hacker and his people.”

 “I pray not to aggravate Naama’s situation in the Russian prison, and I fully trust the President and the Prime Minister, who will continue to work with the Russian President Putin in order arrange Naama’s immediate release,” Yafa added.

Burkov’s family, who are currently in Israel, also filed a petition with the Supreme Court against his planned extradition to the United States.

Burkov’s lawyers, Vadim Shuv and Michael Ironi, said on Tuesday that “this is the first care in which the State of Israel has to decide between two conflicting extradition requests.”

“The two courts have to decide which country to extradite Burkov to, and that decision is in the hands of Justice Minister Ohana. Burkov is a Russian citizen with no criminal history, who has never visited the US, and has no affiliation to the country.” Burkov’s lawyers added.

“Therefore, we believe that he should be extradited to Russia. However, should it be decided that Burkov will be extradited to the United States, we request that, as a condition of his extradition, the US pledge, if convicted, to allow Burkov to serve his prison terms in Russia, as Israel is requesting for Naama.”