Russian Activists Say Historian Vanished After Landing in Israel

Russian activists say historian Artyom Kirpichenok, an Israeli citizen, disappeared after flying from Yerevan to Israel last week for an invited event. Friends say the 51-year-old did not contact them after landing and has not been located. Kirpichenok immigrated to Israel in the 1990s, studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, then returned to Russia about 15 years later and became a vocal critic of Israel and Zionism. The Russian Embassy said it asked Israeli authorities about the reported disappearance and had not yet received a response.