Kathmandu— Russian-Israeli historian Artyom Kirpichenok has been allegedly subjected to harsh treatment while in the custody of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, including extended interrogations lasting up to 24 hours, sleep deprivation, and threats, according to his lawyer. The 51-year-old disappeared on August 2nd after arriving at Ben Gurion Airport from Yerevan and was held for nearly three weeks in a detention facility near Petah Tikva before supporters revealed his location. His lawyer was finally granted access to meet with him on Sunday, revealing details of the alleged mistreatment. Kirpichenok is known for his critical views on Israeli policies toward Iran and Palestine.

Details of Alleged Mistreatment

According to Inna Lebedinskaya-Katz, Kirpichenok’s lawyer, he has endured interrogation sessions lasting between 18 and 24 hours without sleep. He is reportedly kept handcuffed while seated on an iron stool fixed to the floor, with three or four interrogators allegedly shouting threats and applying constant pressure. Nika Dubrovsky, a Russian-born artist and writer campaigning for Kirpichenok’s release, shared that he has also been threatened with life imprisonment.

Psychological and Physical Condition

Despite being in “tolerable physical condition” with no immediate health complaints, Kirpichenok is described as “exhausted, tormented and deeply depressed,” Dubrovsky wrote on X. He remains aware of the support he has received from friends and sends his greetings to them, but has requested that no one travel to Israel.

Background and Restrictions

Kirpichenok, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen and Middle East expert, moved to Israel in the 1990s before returning to Russia. He later became a vocal critic of Israeli government policies, including its military campaign in Gaza, and published ‘Israel: The Road to Catastrophe,’ which describes Israel as a Western “colonial project.” His recent work involved collaborations with media outlets and civic organizations in Türkiye and Iran, countries Israeli citizens are generally prohibited from visiting.

Legal Status and Investigation

A gag order is currently in effect regarding the case, and Kirpichenok’s defense team has yet to receive the case files or details of the accusations against him. The Israeli authorities have not publicly disclosed any charges. Moscow has sought information from Israel following his disappearance and stated it is closely monitoring the situation. International human rights groups have previously documented instances of sleep deprivation and painful restraint during Shin Bet interrogations, practices that have been ruled against by Israel’s Supreme Court when deliberately used to break suspects.

As of Monday, Kirpichenok remains in detention with no charges publicly announced, and his lawyer continues to seek access to case files. The allegations of mistreatment are currently unverified but raise concerns given previous documentation of harsh interrogation tactics.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.