Shin Bet Arrest Israeli Lawyer for Russian-Israeli Arrested

Just when you think you’ve heard the worst of the Israeli justice system, it gets even worse.  Two months ago, an Israeli-Russian academic, Artyom Kirpichonok, age 51, received an invitation to participate in a conference in Israel.

He was born in Leningrad in 1975.  Eventually, he emigrated to Israel. There he earned his PhD at the Hebrew University in Middle East studies.  He also taught there for several years. He did military service in the IDF. After becoming disaffected with Israel and Zionism, he left and returned to Russia.

He recently flew to Israel from Armenia, intending to participate in the conference. On landing at Ben Gurion airport, he was promptly arrested by the Shin Bet.  He has disappeared. His family and friends have heard nothing from him.  His lawyer has not been permitted to visit him. The incident is under a judicial gag order requested by the security police and approved by a pliant judiciary.  His identity may not be published in Israel. I published his name and story shortly after his arrest and I do so here along with the arrest of his defense attorney.

The charges against him are vague, but appear to revolve around a charge to contact with a foreign agent.  After consulting a source, it appears the foreign agent is Russia. Possibly Russian intelligence.  There is a considerable espionage activity between both countries.  It’s possible (but unlikely) the Shin Bet legitimately viewed him as such a threat.  But if this is so, it’s doubtful they would trick him into traveling to Israel.  It’s hard to believe someone could be a Russian agent, but not be in Israel.

As is always the case in such investigations, the “evidence” offered by the security agency is secret and not available to his attorney.  Such circumstances enable the Shin Bet to present the flimsiest case, which the judiciary inevitably takes at face value.  This enables it to hold a prisoner indefinitely. In almost all cases, the prisoner eventually understands that unless they accept a plea deal and admit guilt (without being guilty of anything), they could remain in prison for years without any charges or court case filed.  This is the quality of Israeli justice.

There are a few possibilities: the Shin Bet may believe he is a Russian agent; or it may have arrested him because of his anti-Israel views. Given the rabid extremist atmosphere in Israel, one cannot discount this possibility, as far-fetch as it may sound. Israeli intelligence may have sought and failed to recruit him as an asset.  The arrest could be payback.

Shin Bet Bet criminalizes practice of law

Russian-Israeli historian Artyom Kirpichenok remains in Israeli custody. His lawyer, Inna Lebedinskaya-Katz, has reportedly also been arrested. A gag order restricts reporting on his case in Israel; supporters report that her case is now also subject to a publication ban.

Michael Dorfman, whom I know well, writes:

“She hasn’t shown up anywhere for several weeks, and isn’t answering calls or emails.

We used to talk a lot. She said she’d do everything she could for Artyom. She has a small child. Inna moved to Israel as a child.

I’ve contacted Hebrew journalists I know to check, but they’re silent too. No response.”

— Nika Dubrovsky (@nikadubrovsky) October 18, 2026

Now the story gets even weirder.  An acquaintance of Kirpichenok secured an Israeli-Russian criminal defense lawyer, Inna Levedinskaya-Katz. A source tells me that while she is a criminal defense attorney, she had no experience in national security cases. The Shin Bet arrested her as well for some unspecified reason, charging her with the same offense, contact with a foreign agent.  She has been held incommunicado for weeks.

It’s a vicious circle: first Kirpichenok is charged with the same offense and because she is representing him, she too is arrested for representing him. Though we don’t know the specific charges since the Shin Bet is under no obligation to reveal them. Again standard practice of the Israeli police state, where alleged “security” interests trump individual rights, such as they are. Only in such a country can a judge under the thumb of the secret police, permit the lawyer to be held in prison till the end of the proceedings against her. No bail. Only in a police state will the media diligently report the security apparatus’ press release about the case, with no representation on behalf of the defendant. No interview with anyone supporting the defendant. No skepticism about the charges against them.

A great Talmudic rabbi once said: “There is no judge and there is no justice.”  That’s the case in Israel.  The judges are in the pocket of the Shin Bet and police.  They know what they’re expected to do and they do it willingly.  They rarely balk; rarely impose conditions on the state, instead of the defendant.  This is Israel. No judge, no justice. This is how it is.

I have created a private Facebook group for those interested in updates on these cases. I personally approve new members in order to protect privacy.