In a first interview with Israeli media, Adv. Vadim Klubagent denies the connection between the young woman's incarceration and Russian attempts to prevent the hacker's extradition to the US

• "This case will only be resolved within Russia." Naama Issachar

Lawyer Vadim Klubagent claims he is not scared, though he also admits he has quite a few reasons to fear. After all, there are not many Russian citizens who dare to face Vladimir Putin, to represent in Russia courts who the president can all perceive as his rivals - and still continue to live not far from the Kremlin building, in the heart of Moscow.

"I'd rather not go into detail," replies Clewagant when I ask him if he feels threatened at some point. The embarrassed smile that comes to his face may betray the real answer to the question, and he is only willing to add that in the past, "certain situations with similarities to what you described" have occurred, that is, threats. Cloagnet's son, present in the interview, aligns with the father: "If my father is not afraid - then I have nothing to fear about him either."

Demonstration in front of Russian consulate in New York for Naama's release // Photo: Courtesy of the family

Clovegent, 61, gave a special interview to "Israel This Week" - the first of Israeli media outlets - on a personal visit to Israel. In Russia, he is best known as the former attorney of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the Russian businessman who is seen by many as the greatest opposition to Putin in Russia.

In 2013, after more than a decade in prison, Khodorkovsky was released following a bequest granted by the President. "Putin put Mikhail in jail with false accusations, and the pardon was not just given his kindness," says Cloaggent. "We had to create the right media climate combined with massive international pressure to operate levers and prepare the ground for the pardon. This is a war of attrition, but the main thing is to win."

More about the Na'ama Issachar affair:

• Yaffe Issachar met Naama in prison: "There was crying"

• The Naama Issachar affair: Minister Ohana has signed a Russian hacker extradition to the United States

• Report in Russia: Naama Issachar met with human rights activists

• "Na'ama will not be a game tool": The Issachar family withdrew from its demand to cancel the hacker's extradition

Cloagent's recent statements refer to Khodorkovsky's release, but are aimed at the steps needed to help his other client these days - much better known to the public in Israel - Naama Issachar. The Israeli young woman with US citizenship has been imprisoned in Russia for the past eight months and was recently sentenced to seven and a half years for felony maintenance and smuggling offenses.

"Naama is a hostage," states Clogent. "I am not talking about one or the other political aspect, but about the gross injustice done to her. She did not commit any offense, does not deserve even a fine or deportation from Russia - and yet she sits in prison for no wrongdoing. We must not give up, and only war Legal and public will succeed in bringing Naama home to Israel. "

Naama's precedent

Issachar was arrested last April at Moscow airport, just before boarding a flight to India after a 9-gram cannabis bag was found in her bag. "Until she was arrested at all, she did not have an official signature of the Russian Federation on the passport, she did not stay in Russia's territorial territory at all," Klubagent explains.

Nevertheless, drugs were found in Russia as high as is allowed in Russia.

"That's true, and the fact that they operated the drug detection dogs at the airport is not unusual. But despite all this, no offense has yet been made - for the reason that the cannabis was not bought in Russian territory and was not used in state territory. The drugs were not found in the handbag with which he boarded the plane but a suitcase. Which was to be found in the belly of the plane, and to be handed over only at Ben Gurion Airport. In other words, there was no intention of committing an offense that allegedly endangered the Russian state and therefore has no authority to judge it for a crime, which was not. "

"The government in Israel should fulfill its promises to the family." Adv. Vadim Klubagent // Photo: Oren Ben Hakun

Initially, Issachar was suspected of a maintenance offense only, but three weeks later the Russian prosecutor decided to get worse with the Israeli young woman and add a much more serious suspicion - smuggling drugs. "It has been very unusual and strange already," says Klobgant. "This is the first time a foreign national has been accused of smuggling Russia under similar circumstances."

Can we say that Naama was "looking for"?

"In this context, yes. Since the story of Naama, additional charges have been added against foreigners accused of smuggling drugs. It can be said that Naama, not in her favor, created the precedent."

Can you estimate why they were actually treated for rent?

"I can only speculate, I have no established information. There may be a political story here that I am not aware of, but it may also be too vigorous officials who want to leave a mark and show how important they are and protect Russia from the foreigners who threaten to overwhelm us with drugs. Corresponding to the Khodorkovsky case, Putin has no personal interest against Issachar or the State of Israel. "

So what's actually going on here?

"Most importantly, everyone will remember that this case will be resolved only within Russia, not the US or Israel. This means that we are required to protect Naama in the legal field but in the same breath do not forget the public arena. It is very important for us to flood the case wherever possible. "

TV in Russia not controlled by Putin?

"The public channel of course, but there are more independent media outlets and we manage to get interviews there. Until sentencing no one has heard of this case. Now that is changing."

And what about social networks?

"We are there too. The main problem is to convince people that this is not just a case of a foreign citizen passing drugs. It is the instinct of people and so they are not in a hurry to join the fight. We need to convince them that this is a domestic incident of gross injustice that also applies to human rights activists. Russians who do not get justice. "

24/7 in the public consciousness

Last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the possibility of granting amnesty to Yishar. At the same time, President Reuben Rivlin also sent a request to the Kremlin. Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Oshakov, told international media that the requests would be considered by the president. "This is not a matter of course because these requests are usually completely ignored," says Cloggagnet, but is quick to make it clear that "this is definitely not enough. This event should be every day, all day in the mind."

Last Sunday, Yaffe Issachar, Naama's mother, sent a letter to President Putin requesting a pardon for her daughter. The letter was forwarded to him through Greek patriarch Theophilus III during his meeting with the Russian president last week. "I beg with maternal heartache to pardon my daughter and give her back to her family," Issachar the mother wrote to the president.

Rally for Issachar Release // Photo: Gideon Markovich

Concurrent with the direct appeal to the Kremlin, Klobgant does not recommend continuing protests in Israel, such as those that occurred in front of the Russian Embassy and during which Putin was vilified. "Outside of Russia, we need to focus on the pressure from the Israeli authorities, and I have also discussed this issue with your attorney, Avi Haimi. The Israeli government should fulfill its promises to Naama's family."

There is a conspiracy theory that Putin is not releasing Issachar in order not to provide an achievement for Netanyahu in a sensitive political era.

"I heard about it, not just in Israel. Probably not my business. Let's just say that, politicians have a very particular style of thinking, not just the term 'political animal'. The situation must be produced that everyone will be happy with."

Public pressure may not upset Putin and make him stand out in his position?

"It's a gag. In the time I represented Khodorkovsky, a much more sensitive and charged case for the Russian administration, it was clear to me that noise must be made. I know for sure that the position of 'not annoying' and waiting for something good to happen is completely wrong."

Could it be that Shachar was supposed to act as a bargaining chip for Putin to prevent the extradition to the US of the Russian hacker held in Israel, Alexei Burkov?

"There is no connection between the cases. Naama's mother also says the events are unrelated."

On the other hand, about a month and a half ago, Yissachar and the members of the defense team, prior to joining Klaggant, expressed their strong opposition to the intention of extradition. "It will be terrible and horrible," said Ishkar the mother, while Attorney Alexander Teitz added that the extradition "will complicate us." Despite the protests, Burkov was extradited to Americans earlier this month, after the Supreme Court in Israel rejected the hacker's request to prevent his extradition.

Exception, but not the only one

Cloagent, as mentioned, represented Opposition Khodorkovsky as part of his worldview that seeks liberal reforms in Russia. "It was clear that Khodorkovsky had no chance of being eligible for a trial," Klubagent explains, "but on the other hand, if we hadn't fought, he would still have been able to rot in prison." A new documentary about the Russian businessman, "Citizen Khodorkovsky", was recently launched.

Putin's fear of Khodorkovsky at the political level was justified?

"Not at all. He did not want to deal with him, I know for sure that was not his intention. He was harassed by economic aspects, personal competition with Putin's associates. He did not intend to oppose the administration but changed the law and in one moment became guilty."

In 2015, an investigation was again opened in Russia against Khodorkovsky, this time on suspicion of murder.

"All the charges against him are one big bullshit. They could never happen."

Are you an exception in Russia's lawyer landscape?

"Perhaps an exception, but not the only one. There are more and more cases like this that seek to challenge the rules of government. We have a difficult and fundamental problem with regard to the rule of law, and unfortunately in recent years, not only has there been no progress but there has been a setback in many ways."

Clovegant, who devotes his life to the war on corruption in Putin's Russia, sends a warning about public confidence in the rule of law following the decision to indict Prime Minister Netanyahu. "War on corruption is necessary in every country, but it is very dangerous when this war is viewed by the public as a politico-populist campaign. "This scenario is even more dangerous than corruption itself, as it leads to the destruction of the rule of law, justice and public trust in the country. The biggest beneficiaries of such a reality are not the citizens or the state but the real corrupt. "

Does Russian society want to resemble democracies in the West, or does it have the affection of a "strong leader"?

"There is a liberal-western minority, but it is a minority. The majority are dissatisfied, but still trust the president. This is an integral part of the Russian experience, even from the Tsarist days. The thing for the Russians is that if a big move takes place, such as the fall of the Tsar 100 years ago or the collapse of the state," M - They drift into it. You have to remember that in both cases there were processes of democratization at first but it collapsed quickly, partly because of a bad economic situation, and was replaced by the communist revolution and the current government. "

So is there any chance that if there were democratic elections in Russia, Putin would win?

"Not sure about Putin because he has been there for 20 years, and of course I include Medvedev's tenure, which served as a decoration. It's a long time, even Stalin and Brezhnev have had fewer years. We have to keep hoping things change."

Not waiting for miracles

Issachar is imprisoned in a prison 60 kilometers north of Moscow city, and Clobgent drives her at least once a week. "She is young but a fighter," says Clobgant. "She was a field soldier in a firm cliff operation, so I told her it was a robust cliff 2.0 for her. True, she does cry sometimes and it is completely natural but most of the time she is strong, in a good mood, joking and also very sharp. She is careful to practice yoga, which is why she flew to India, and constantly thinks with us how to best present her version. "

How are you treated in prison?

"You could say she is a VIP prisoner. The prison administration understands the situation, and she is well guarded that she will not be harmed. She has a warm-up there and her mother also takes care of her for winter clothing. The last time I saw her she was also dressed as a Russian girl. She also learns a little Russian. But naturally the words she learns in prison are not the usual words one should learn when acquiring a new language. "

How far does anti-Semitism play a role in the story?

"Absolutely not. Nobody thinks about it."

Didn't she take a risk when she hired your services, that you wouldn't upset Putin?

"I don't think so. I am no longer the enemy of the nation in terms of Putin."

"At the time I represented Khodorkovsky - a much more sensitive and charged case for the Russian administration - it was clear to me that noise must be made." Mikhail Khodorkovsky // Photo: IP

This January, hearings on the family's appeal are expected to resume. "We recently received the minutes of the court hearings, and we saw that there were some inaccuracies that were unsurprisingly in line with the prosecution's line, and we immediately sought to rectify them," explains Clowgant. "I really hope we don't have to have this discussion at all and Naama will be back home sooner."

In January Putin will visit Israel, for the first time since 2012. Is there any chance that the occasion will sign a pardon for Ishishar?

"We must not wait for miracles. It is not on my lot. The Russian president is authorized to pardon anyone, at any time and without any restriction or condition. Should be home, but I'm not deciding. "

Is there any chance that the judges will quit contrary to the Kremlin's opinion, and in favor of Issachar?

"The unexpected happens sometimes. Khodorkovsky was supposed to die in prison, but in practice it's only been ten years, and now he's in London and good for him. I very much hope that Naama will soon return home and be able to return to her former life, with a difficult and tragic story that will remain with her for life. ".