The Central District Prosecutor today indicted Michael Dror, who served as the Israeli Consul in Moscow for two years for accepting bribes and two counts of fraud and breach of trust. The indictment was filed with the Rishon LeZion Magistrates Court.
The state alleges that Dror worked for the Foreign Ministry in 1995-2002, serving in various ministry postings in Russia. In the final two years, he was the Israeli Consul in Moscow, where he was responsible for granting visas to Israel for tourism and family visits. He also issued transit documents and passports for Israeli citizens who filed applications with the consulate.
Dror is accused of accepted during this period $20,000 in bribes, as well as other benefits and gifts, from a Russian named Georgy Rienko, an employee of a Russian travel agency, Agat, in exchange for issuing hundreds of Israeli visas. According to the indictment, Rienko would visit the consulate several times a week, and Dror would allow him entry to his office through the employee’s entrance, in violation of security procedures.
Rienko allegedly gave Dror dozens of visa applications from citizens of Russia and other CIS states, where the local Israeli consul was not authorized to handle visas. These applications were allegedly based on false declarations and forged documents.
Dror allegedly approved the visas in breach of consular regulations, Israeli law and regulations, and without verifying the veracity of the information in the applications. As a result, dozens of these visa-holders were denied entry into Israel after checks by the Ministry of the Interior border department.
For six months, Dror allegedly received a weekly $800 bribe from Rienko, who also paid for a holiday for Dror and his wife outside of Moscow, repaired the Dror’s private car, and provided gifts, including a leather bag and alcoholic beverages.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on December 18, 2006
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