Russian Historian with Israeli Citizenship Detained in Israel on Espionage Charges

Russian historian Artem Kirpichenok, who holds Israeli citizenship and served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the early 1990s, has reportedly been detained at Ben Gurion Airport on suspicion of espionage for Iran. Kirpichenok, who was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and immigrated to Israel, studied at the Hebrew University before returning to Russia.

In Russia, Kirpichenok became a vocal critic of Israel, publishing books that accused the country of apartheid and supported Hamas's actions on October 7th. He described Gaza border settlements as "settlements" where Palestinians were "employed under slave conditions," and suggested that the October 7th attacks were an opportunity for Palestinians to "settle the score with their former employers."

Reports indicate Kirpichenok visited Iran multiple times, including a two-week trip in 2018, and detailed these visits on social media. A group advocating for his release claims he was invited to Israel for a conference, suspecting it was a trap. He has also appeared in Russian media, including the Turkish outlet TRT, and a documentary about his life titled "Garden of Bitter Memories," which reportedly touched upon his disillusionment after immigrating to Israel and included photos from his IDF service.

Kirpichenok, 51, has also been critical of the Israeli education system and suggested that many people wish to emigrate from Israel, advocating for dialogue with such individuals through larger media platforms. He has claimed that Israeli propaganda misrepresented the events of October 7th, citing reports that Israeli citizens were casualties of friendly fire from Israeli tanks and helicopters.