Russian-Israeli Historian Arrested in Israel, Claims Torture

Russian-Israeli historian Artyom Kirsanov, who resides in Russia and holds both citizenships, was reportedly arrested at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel on suspicion of espionage and foreign intelligence contact. The opposition news site Meduza reported the arrest, citing Kirsanov's lawyer, who stated he is accused of serious offenses against state security, the nature of which cannot be published. Kirsanov, 51, born in St. Petersburg, immigrated to Israel in the 1990s, studied at the Hebrew University, and returned to Russia in 2005. He has been critical of Israel and Zionism, authoring books such as "A People's History of Israel" and "Israel: The Road to Catastrophe."

According to his lawyer, Inna Lebedinskaya-Katz, Kirsanov was arrested by the Shin Bet and held in solitary confinement. He claims to have been subjected to torture during interrogation, including sleep deprivation, constant light, and being held in uncomfortable positions under duress and threats. Family members told Meduza that the accusations of ties to Russia are false, but admitted he might have had contact with an Iranian or Lebanese agent. They also stated he visited Iran multiple times, including a two-week trip in 2018, despite being an Israeli citizen, and had visited Israel several times since without being approached by authorities.

Meanwhile, a group of activists in Russia has formed to demand Kirsanov's release, believing he was lured to Israel for a conference and that his arrest was a trap. Former Russian parliament member Daria Mitina expressed concern that Kirsanov could become a bargaining chip between Israel and Russia. His family insists there is no "Arab element" in the case and that Russia is not hostile to Israel.