AMCIT RABBI ORDERED DEPORTED FOR VISA VIOLATION

UNCLAS VLADIVOSTOK 000013

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CASC KIRF PHUM RS
SUBJECT: AMCIT RABBI ORDERED DEPORTED FOR VISA VIOLATION


1. On February 12, a district court in Vladivostok declared
American citizen Rabbi Yisroel Silberstein to be in violation of
his visa status and ordered him to leave the country. The rabbi
had been in Russia for several months on a cultural visa and had
been working at the Jewish Religious and Cultural Community
Center of Vladivostok. At the hearing PolOff asked the Rabbi
whether he saw any political motivation behind his legal problem
but the Rabbi declined to speculate.


2. According to the Federal Immigration Service, the rabbi had
been "engaged in or promoting activities conflicting with the
stated purpose of his visa." The judge ruled that his work with
the center amounted to religious activity, and therefore
violated the terms of his cultural visa. According to Russian
law, any foreign citizen in the country as a religious worker
must have a residency permit.


3. The rabbi's lawyers are appealing the case, and a final
decision -- which could include a fine as well as deportation --
will be reached within ten days. As Silberstein's visa was due
to expire on February 27, the Rabbi will leave the country by
then regardless of the ruling. An adverse ruling would,
however, make his planned visa renewal and return difficult if
not impossible.

Just What is 'Religious Work'?


4. At his hearing, his attorney insisted that the rabbi's work
consisted of teaching both Jews and non-Jews about the Jewish
culture, and that none of his work could be categorized as
"religious work." The lawyer also took the court to task for
failing to give concrete examples of the activities that could
be considered in violation of the visa. The judge did imply one
violation by questioning witnesses about Silberstein's role in
the renovation of an old synagogue in the city. The rabbi
asserted that helping to raise funds for the renovation 'as a
private citizen,' and supervising the work 'to make sure it was
done correctly' does not amount to religious activity.
Witnesses for the defense asserted that the rabbi's work with
the Jewish Center consisted of providing information about
various aspects of Judaism, such as the language, food, music,
and holidays, and not the religious aspects of the culture.

Rabbi Mugged Last Year


5. Late last year, Rabbi Silberstein was the victim of a
robbery in downtown Vladivostok. In the early evening of
November 10, an unknown assailant hit him in the head three
times with a heavy object and stole his laptop. The rabbi was
treated at a local hospital for a mild concussion and other
injuries and released later that evening. The next day he left
Vladivostok for Moscow and Paris on a previously-planned trip.


6. Comment. Until his unfortunate assault in November, the
Rabbi received virtually no press coverage and maintained a low
profile and had not been a victim of harassment by authorities.
As yet, there is no indication that the assault and subsequent
deportation ruling are linked, or are part of a concerted
campaign against him or his center. It is possible that because
of the media coverage of the assault, Silberstein became the
focus of attention by immigration authorities.

ARMBRUSTER