INTERPOL PROTECTION®Legal Intelligence

🇮🇱 Middle East

Does Israel extradite to Russia?

No extradition treaty with Russia, but statutory protection is narrower than expected: it covers only those who were citizens and residents at the time of the offence.

In short

Mixed practice

There is no bilateral extradition treaty with Russia, but protection from extradition depends less on that than on the person's status — and it is narrower than commonly assumed: the law protects only those who were already Israeli citizens and residents at the time of the alleged offence.

Author

INTERPOL PROTECTION Research Desk

Reviewed by

Legal Review Board

Overview

In Israel the decisive factor is not the treaty basis (no bilateral extradition treaty with Russia exists) but the person's own status. And here a dangerous misconception is widespread.

Following the 1999 and 2001 amendments, protection from surrender extends only to those who, at the time of the alleged offence, were both citizens and residents of Israel. Repatriation after the events giving rise to the prosecution confers no such protection — a point that matters greatly for anyone who left in connection with a criminal case.

Moreover, even a protected citizen may be extradited to stand trial in the requesting state: the law requires only that the country undertake in advance to return them to Israel to serve any sentence, should they be convicted and so wish. This is not a bar on surrender but a guarantee of return.

A separate factor is judicial control: extradition cases go to court, decisions can be appealed, and arguments about politically motivated prosecution are examined on the merits.

Legal system

A mixed system with a strong case-law element; extradition undergoes judicial examination with a right of appeal.

Extradition practice

There is no bilateral extradition treaty with Russia. Statutory protection covers only those who were Israeli citizens and residents at the time of the offence; and even they may be extradited to stand trial, subject to an undertaking to return them to serve any sentence in Israel.

INTERPOL cooperation

An INTERPOL member; a notice affects border crossing and can complicate status procedures.

Human rights & judicial review

The ECHR does not apply, but a developed system of judicial protection and constitutional review operates; political-persecution arguments are examined on the merits.

Not sure whether Israel could extradite you? Describe your situation — we will assess the extradition risk and outline the next steps. Confidential, via secure channels.

Assess extradition risk from IsraelCheck your situationTelegram channel

All enquiries are handled confidentially.

Frequently asked questions

Does repatriation protect against extradition?

Generally not, if the offence predates it. The law protects only those who were already Israeli citizens and residents at the time of the alleged offence — repatriating afterwards confers no such protection.

Does Israel extradite its own citizens?

It may extradite them to stand trial in the requesting state if that state undertakes in advance to return the person to Israel to serve any sentence. This is a guarantee of return, not a bar on surrender.

Does repatriation remove a Red Notice?

No. Obtaining status may change the person's position in the extradition procedure, but the notice itself remains in force — it is deleted only through the CCF.

Not sure whether you are wanted?

This page answers in general terms; your case it does not. Describe your situation — we will look at what Israel actually means for you, whether a Red Notice exists and what to do next. Confidential, no obligation.

What can be done

  • Check in advance, before travelling

    A CCF request and a legal analysis let you find out preventively whether data exists and what the risks are — rather than at the border.

  • Challenge it and seek deletion

    We prepare a reasoned request to the CCF to delete a Red Notice: where data has been processed in breach of INTERPOL's rules — in a politically motivated case, for example — the Commission deletes it.

  • Come back after a refusal

    A refusal does not close the procedure for good: a request can be re-filed on new facts — a refused extradition, refugee status, evidence of political motive.

The outcome cannot be guaranteed in advance, but the situation is not a dead end either.

Review my caseMessage on WhatsAppCheck your situation

All enquiries are handled confidentially.

Sources

Version history

  • v1.0 — Initial publication.
  • v1.1 — Country overview update and legal review.
Discuss my case