Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed a decree to pardon Israeli national Naama Issachar, who has been serving a prison term in Russia on drug-related charges, the Kremlin's press service reported
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 29th January, 2020) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed a decree to pardon Israeli national Naama Issachar, who has been serving a prison term in Russia on drug-related charges, the Kremlin's press service reported.
Issachar earlier wrote a pardon petition addressed to the Russian president.
The decree comes into force from the day of signing.
Issachar, who has dual Israeli-US citizenship, was arrested in April 2019 during a layover in Moscow while she was on her way to Israel from India. Police found some nine grams (0.3 ounces) of cannabis in her bags. Issachar was found guilty of drug smuggling and sentenced to 7.5 years in prison.
The penalty has been harshly criticized in Israel as "disproportionate" since the amount of drugs found was allowed for personal use in Israel, though it is considered illegal in Russia.
