Naama Issachar doing yoga, learning Russian in prison - Russian media
According to the report from RT, Naama told human rights activists that visited her that she has no complaints over food or medical care, but did ask to see a rabbi.
By IDAN ZONSHINENaama Issachar, who was arrested by Russia and given seven-and-a-half years in prison for carrying cannabis.(photo credit: COURTESY OF FAMILY)
Naama Issachar, the Israeli who was recently sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in Russian prison, is “not complaining over the terms of living in her jail cell,” according to a report on Russian news channel RT from Tuesday.Russian news sources shared new details about the alleged terms of imprisonment of the Israeli prisoner. Issachar was sent to prison for possession of 9.5 gr. of cannabis found in her bag during a connection flight through Moscow in March.She has reportedly received visits from human rights activists and American diplomats, but has met very few Israeli representatives since her arrest.The Israeli Consul-General in Russia Yaffa Olivetsky visited Issachar in prison Wednesday, reportedly handing her a letter from her mother, while assuring her that the State of Israel is doing everything in its power to help herIt was also reported that Issachar has been focusing on learning to speak Russian from her cell-mates, doing yoga and listening to Russian radio. Her cell-mates are all English speakers convicted of fraud, picked especially to help her learn Russian and help improve their English.“We listen to Igor Creed songs in Russian on the radio” Issachar said, according to RT. “I like the songs, the girls translate them for me.”According to the report from RT, Issachar told the human rights activists that visited her that she has no complaints over food or medical care, but did ask to see a rabbi. Her request was reportedly accepted, but no rabbi showed up for the scheduled appointment.She also reportedly complained about the ban on making phone calls to family members, and her request on the topic is currently awaiting approval by a judge.“I’m very happy to hear about all the support in Israel and in the US, but I want to go home already,” she said. “Hopefully, the media attention will help me.”Issachar’s arrest sparked a massive public outcry in Israel, with even her harshest critics admitting that the punishment seems to be excessive and politically motivated.
In exchange for her extradition, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for the release of captured Russian hacker Alexei Burkov, who is wanted for tax fraud and currently awaiting extradition to the US from Israel.
