Story By: Michael Leidig, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tried to intervene on behalf of this young Israeli woman jailed for seven-and-half years years for smuggling a small amount of cannabis by appealing for leniency to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The young woman, Naama Issachar, 25, admitted possessing 9 grams (0.3 oz) of cannabis when she was stopped at Moscow airport during transit right but she denied that she was attempting to sell the drugs or that she was a dealer.

However, a Russian court rejected her assertions and jailed her for seven and half years in a fast track hearing last Friday.

The young woman also has American citizenship, and her family who are based in New Jersey have accused Russian officials of increasing the punishment in order to pressurise Israel for its release in a Russian currently held their pending an extradition request from the US.

A spokesman for Netanyahu confirmed the Prime Minister together with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin had together revealed to Putin to pardon Issachar and to send her back to Israel.

On his official Twitter account, the prime minister wrote: “Today, I appealed to President Putin of Russia, as a friend of the Jewish People and of the State of Israel, regarding Naama Issachar. Although Naama has made a grave mistake and admitted it, such a long sentence could have a terrible impact on her life.”

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.