An American-Israeli woman from New Jersey who was arrested at an airport in Moscow for possession of nine and a half grams of marijuana has become the center of a diplomatic standoff between Russia, Israel, and the U.S..
According to Fox News, 26-year-old Naama Issachar was born and raised in Fair Lawn, N.J., before moving to Israel when she 16.
Officials in Israel have requested that Naama—who was arrested in April while traveling through Moscow and later sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for Marijuana possession—be released.
“The punishment being demanded by the Russian prosecutor is disproportionate and does not fit the nature of the offense being attributed to Issachar,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman said in a statement on October 11, following Issachar’s sentencing.
Netanyahu says that when he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi last month, he brought up Issachar’s detention. He added that he deeply appreciates President Putin’s willingness to devote time to the issue and hopes that effort will bear fruit.
Russia is said to be using Naama’s arrest to secure the release of Aleksey Burkov; an IT specialist wanted in the United States on charges of hacking and credit card fraud.
Burkov is currently being held by authorities in Israel following his arrest at Ben Gurion airport in December 2015 as he was attempting to leave the country.
Israel’s Supreme Court officially approved his extradition to the U.S. in August. According to Russia’s state-run RT television channel, the swap between Burkov and Issachar was initially suggested by Burkov’s family.
“My sister is being used as a political pawn,” said Liad Goldberg, the 32-year-old sister of Naama, the NY Post reported.
Netanyahu said—regarding the possibility of a swap—”Judicial authorities in Israel have made it unequivocally clear that there is no possibility of preventing the extradition of Burkov following the Supreme Court ruling that he is subject to extradition.”
Naama’s mother, Yaffa Issachar, wrote an open letter in Hebrew and Russian to Putin—published in Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper—begging for the release of her daughter.
“Mr. Putin, Naama cannot be a bargaining chip for a person who may or may not have committed security offenses. That is not a fair trade. I am sure you wouldn’t want history to judge you as the leader who stood behind the showcase trial.”
Naama’s father, Netanel, focused his attention on Netanyahu, asking him to do everything in his power to secure Naama’s release.
“I turn to you as to one father to another and as the Prime Minister. I am certain that you’re doing everything to release her. Please, I ask you, put pressure. Thank you very much,” he said in a Facebook video.
The CNN News Wire contributed to this report.
