Israeli attorney Mordechai Tzivin, who specializes in representing Israeli prisoners who are imprisoned abroad, particularly in Russia, received a certificate of appreciation from the Russian Bar Association.
Despite the many legal battles he has waged against the Russian legal system on behalf of Israeli prisoners, Tzivin has been known to praise the Russian administrative and judicial system as one that follows international agreements and respects human rights and has also published a controversial article supporting the Russian stand regarding the elimination of Polish intelligence during World War II.
The certificate, which praises Tzivin for his “special contribution to the defense of civil rights” bears the logo of the Bar Association of the Russian Federation and states “This award is granted to Mordechai Tzivin as an expression of appreciation for his productive and long term activity in Russia as a foreign attorney.”
The award came as a pleasant surprise to Tzivin who praised the Russian Bar Association for the recognition despite the fact that he has taken on many cases against the Russian legal system, including his recent victory blocking the extradition of Israeli Colonel Yair Klein from Russia to Columbia.
“This recognition proves that at the end of the day, the system grants honor and appreciation to those who do their work faithfully and believes in their struggles and their mission,” said Tzivin.
“The granting of this award comes to show the positive attitude the Russians have regarding human rights and international law which they put into action.
“The legal struggles in the courtroom have never tainted the personal friendship I enjoy with the elite officials in the Russian and legal administrative system, something that does not happen in Europe and in the United States when I represent clients there as both a Jew and an Israeli citizen.”
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