GOR WITHDRAWS FROM SCHNEERSOHN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 001537

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL KIRF SOCI RS
SUBJECT: GOR WITHDRAWS FROM SCHNEERSOHN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS,
CLAIMS SOVEREIGNTY

REF: A. MOSCOW 774

B. MOSCOW 282

Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor David Kostelancik fo
r reason 1.4(b,d)


1. (C) On personal instructions from Russian Foreign
Minister Lavrov, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Acting Director
for the North AMERICA Department Khudrin summoned us on June
11 and presented a note (scanned and emailed to EUR/RUS) that
announced the GOR's withdrawal from United States court
proceedings concerning the Schneersohn Collection. Khudrin
explained that the GOR position regarding the Schneersohn
Collection -- that it is a part of Russia's cultural heritage
and has always been the property of the Russian government --
had not been respected, and that the United States court
system "did not have proper jurisdiction" in this matter.
Underscoring that the GOR's withdrawal did not equate to
"shutting the door" on future legal proceedings, he suggested
that the Chabad Lubavitch community could pursue legal
recourse in the Russian court system to resolve the issue,
since the Collection is located on Russian soil.


2. (C) Referring to the norms of international law, Khudrin
stated that an internal act of any government cannot be
considered the matter of legal investigation in the court of
another country. He added that the GOR viewed the
Schneersohn Collection as a matter of state sovereignty, and
that it would not be subject to the rulings of American
courts. As such, the GOR claimed immunity from any legal
rulings made in the United States court systems. Embassy
officials have been in continuous contact with GOR officials
and Jewish community leaders on the status of the Schneersohn
Collection prior to the GOR decision (reftels).
BEYRLE