A Russian-Israeli historian known for his criticism of Israel has disappeared after landing at Ben Gurion Airport last week.

Artyom Kirpichenok, who lives in Russia, came to Israel on August 4 for a conference but hasn’t been seen since getting off the plane, according to Hebrew media reports. Family and friends who have tried to contact him have been unsuccessful.

Russia’s ambassador in Israel, Anatoly Viktorov, has reached out to Israeli authorities about the matter, according to Russian state media. Daria Mitina, a former Russian lawmaker, claimed on Telegram that the Shin Bet intelligence service had taken Kirpichenok into custody.

“Our worst fears have been confirmed… Artem Ivanovich Kirpichenok is in prison, in the hands of the Israeli secret police Shabak,” she wrote, according to Izvestia, a Russian outlet linked to the Kremlin.

Kirpichenok lived in Israel for more than a decade and studied at the Hebrew University. He writes frequently about Israel and has taken a critical tone toward the country, with Haaretz describing him as part of a small left-wing........

© The Times of Israel