Scientist, PhD, historian, writer, publicist, orientalist, journalist, and blogger
https://www.facebook.com/artem.kirpichenok
https://sites.google.com/view/artem-kirpichenok
To add your signature to the open letter in defense of historian and publicist Artem Kirpichenok, send your details (first name, last name, position/title, place of work, and country) to ArtemKirpichenok@gmail.com
Artem Kirpichenok is a scholar, Ph.D. in history, historian, writer, publicist, Middle East scholar, journalist, and blogger. He specializes in the research of Zionism and the history of the Middle East. He lived in Israel for about 15 years, holds dual Russian and Israeli citizenship, and has been permanently residing in Russia in recent years. Born on April 16, 1975, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg); he is currently 51 years old. In the early 1990s, he repatriated with his family to Israel as a teenager, where he graduated from the Faculty of History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. There, in 2003, at the Department of Russian and Slavic Studies under the direction of Professor Jonathan Frankel, he defended his doctoral dissertation “The Serbian settlements in Ukraine in the middle of the 18th century,” receiving his Ph.D. He completed his military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In the mid-2000s, he returned to Russia, where he worked as a tour guide and engaged in academic and journalistic activities.
Currently, he serves as the Head of the Slavic Studies Department at the Center for Arab-Eurasian Studies (CAES), and is a columnist and author for the leading Russian business publication Vedomosti, the Turkish state media TRT in Russian, and the federal newspaper Kultura. He is also a regular contributor and expert for Russian and foreign socio-political platforms including Svobodnaya Pressa, Metro Newspaper, the Azerbaijani portal Caliber.Az, and the Ukraina.ru news agency. Furthermore, he collaborates as an expert with the Center for Applied Research and Programs (PRISP Center) and the STMEGI media resource, and publishes on specialized scientific, educational, and left-wing platforms such as Skepsis, Rabkor, and Liva.
A. Kirpichenok is the author of 8 historical and publicistic books on domestic and foreign history, politics, and sociology, including:
- Why Did the Counter-Revolution Win in Russia? The Right Wing Against the Truth,
- St. Petersburg. Walks with a Breeze. A Guidebook for Scooters and Bicycles,
- Israel: The Road to Catastrophe
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UnDyLYkqqHTHRyuxL5aH99OwMQOIvk5H ,
- The Rise and Fall of General Horvat,
- Notes of a Man from Atlantis,
- A People's History of Israel
https://flibusta.is/b/774199 ,
- Hungary 1956: A Different Perspective,
- Serbian Settlements in Ukraine in the Middle of the XVIII Century.
His writings are exceptionally insightful, engaging, and consistently uncover lesser-known historical records. In his numerous publications, articles, and public appearances, he has consistently criticized the Israeli government for its regional escalation and its policies regarding the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
In the autumn of 2018, he spent approximately two weeks in the Islamic Republic of Iran. For Israeli citizens, traveling to Iran is strictly prohibited without special government permission, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 4 years. Following this trip, he visited Israel multiple times without hindrance, and no legal action was taken against him at that time.
A. Kirpichenok holds left-wing, internationalist convictions and is recognized as one of the leading Middle East regional experts in Russia. He is widely known as a profound and consistent critic of US and Israeli foreign policy, a defender of authentic Jewish anti-fascist culture and solidarity among all nations, as well as a modest and kind individual.
On August 2, 2026, he arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport (Tel Aviv, Israel) on a flight from Yerevan (Armenia). The return ticket was purchased for August 8. The plane was supposed to land at 10:50, but as early as 10:41 he sent a message: "Arrived". The last activity on social networks was recorded around 10:46. Since then, he does not get in touch and does not reply in messengers, which is completely uncharacteristic for him.
He did not reach his apartment in Ashkelon (which he rented out, and is now selling and needs to sign the documents in person, for which he periodically comes), where he planned to go by bus, although he intended to stay in it until the return flight. Appearance on August 2: light trousers, green shirt with long sleeves, brown leather backpack. The police, following a report about the disappearance of Artem Kirpichenok, said that at 14:00 he passed border control at Tel Aviv airport and, according to available information, is located on the territory of Israel.
As it turned out, he is detained, is in a detention center, and a case was opened against him in the Israel Security Agency SHABAK (Shin Bet), responsible for internal security, counterintelligence and the fight against terrorism inside the country and directly subordinate to the Prime Minister of Israel. On August 5, former State Duma deputy of Russia Daria Mitina stated that he is in an Israeli prison. There is no official confirmation of the detention from the authorities yet.
The Russian Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Anatoly Viktorov, noted that the embassy had sent an inquiry to the competent Israeli departments. His interests are represented by Israeli lawyer Inna Led, as well as a lawyer officially appointed by SHABAK, but access to lawyers is limited and none of them has seen Artem Kirpichenok yet. What exactly is incriminated to him is not voiced. Israeli departments do not comment on the detention. Neither the procedural status of Kirpichenok nor the reason for the arrest are officially known.
The newspaper "Haaretz" wanted to write about this incident, but they were banned. In Israel, a favorite technique is "isur pirsum", i.e. a ban on publicity, which SHABAK used now. Artem Kirpichenok has repeatedly criticized the Israeli leadership for its policy. In this connection, there is an assumption that he could be lured into the country for the purpose of reprisal and arrested right at the airport.
Usually, a detainee must appear before a court within 48 hours, but if he is qualified as "bitchoni" (i.e. crimes against the security of the state), then he can be held up to 35 days without compliance of charges. He can be held for a long time, even years, at the stage of preliminary investigation. As a citizen of Israel, he can be tried under Israeli laws — for treason, espionage, etc.
Please spend 1 minute: copy the RUSSIAN text below, insert your details, and send an email to the Russian Consul.
(Note: If you are not a Russian citizen, in the "Паспорт" field simply enter your passport number and your country of citizenship, e.g., Passport: 98765432, Israel).
WHERE TO SEND:
Subject: ЭКСТРЕННО — Задержание гражданина РФ Кирпиченка А.И.
COPY AND SEND THIS RUSSIAN TEXT:
Послу РФ в Израиле Викторову А.Д.
от: [Your Full Name]
Паспорт: [Your Passport Number and Country]
Телефон: [Your Phone]
ОБРАЩЕНИЕ
Уважаемый Анатолий Дмитриевич!
Прошу оказать экстренное консульское содействие гражданину РФ Кирпиченку Артему Ивановичу, 1975 г.р., который задержан спецслужбой ШАБАК в Израиле и находится под стражей.
Прошу направить официальный запрос властям Израиля для выяснения его местонахождения, причин задержания и обеспечения к нему консульского доступа для защиты его законных прав.
[Your First and Last Name]
[Date]
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English translation (For your understanding only — do not send this part):
To the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Israel Viktorov A.D.
from: [Your Full Name]
Passport: [Your Passport Number and Country]
Phone: [Your Phone]
I request to provide urgent consular assistance to citizen of the Russian Federation Artem Ivanovich Kirpichenok, born in 1975, who is detained by the SHABAK security service in Israel and is currently held under custody. I request to send an official inquiry to the Israeli authorities to clarify his location, the reasons for his detention, and to ensure consular access to him to protect his lawful rights.
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Emergency phone number (if someone is in Israel and is ready to call personally): +972 54 962 23 41 .
Please spend 1 minute: copy the text below, insert your details and send an email to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI).
WHERE TO SEND:
To: mail@acri.org.il
Subject: URGENT: Detention of citizen Artem Kirpichenok
To the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI)
from: [Your First and Last Name]
APPEAL
Dear Sir/Madam!
I request to provide urgent legal and human rights assistance to citizen Artem Kirpichenok, born in 1975, who is detained by the SHABAK security service in Israel and is currently held under custody.
I request to send an official inquiry to the Israeli authorities to clarify his location, the reasons for his detention, and to ensure access to his legal counsel to protect his lawful rights.
[Your First and Last Name]
[Your Country]
[Date]
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Online Hotline: acri.org.il ,
Emergency phone number (if someone is in Israel and is ready to call personally): +972 3 560 81 85 .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I do not have Russian or Israeli citizenship. Can I send a letter?
Yes, of course. Both the Russian consulate and the international human rights organization ACRI are obliged to accept appeals from any citizens, regardless of their passport and place of residence. The main thing is that help is required for a person whose rights have been grossly violated.
Is it safe to send such letters?
Absolutely safe. You are not doing anything illegal. You are using your lawful right to appeal to official state bodies (the Consulate of the Russian Federation) and international human rights institutions (ACRI) to protect a person.
Is it mandatory to include my passport details and phone number in the letter to the consul?
It is preferable. Russian state bodies are required by law to respond to any appeals, but the presence of your data gives the letter an official status and protects it from falling into spam filters. For human rights activists from ACRI, your personal data (passport and phone number) are not required — those fields have been removed there for your convenience.
Will the letters arrive if I am writing from abroad?
Yes. Email works worldwide without restrictions. All the specified addresses are active and accept international correspondence 24/7.
What else can I do besides sending letters?
Spread the link to this website as much as possible. Share Artem's story on your social networks, specialized chats, and channels. SHABAK is counting on complete silence around this case ("isur pirsum" — a ban on publicity). Our main task is to break this conspiracy of silence.
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PEACE-KEEPING AND HUMANITARIAN PUBLIC ASSOCIATIONS
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEACE FOUNDATIONS
Novoalekseevskaya str., 20 A, bldg. 7, Moscow, Russia, 129626 www.mafimpeace.nu email: mcoomafm@hk.ru
PSRN (OGRN) 1257700121470, TIN (INN) 9717177329, IEC (KPP) 771701001
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WE DEMAND THE RELEASE OF RUSSIAN HISTORIAN ARTEM KIRPICHENOK
DETAINED IN ISRAEL!
Statement
by the International Association of Peace Foundations
August 7, 2026
According to media reports, Artem Kirpichenok, a well-known Russian historian, public figure, journalist, and full member of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS), who flew there on business, has been detained in Israel and placed in a detention facility of the Israel Security Agency SHABAK.
There are still no official explanations from the Israeli authorities, which allows us to say that what happened was dictated solely by political motives. A. Kirpichenok has always openly opposed the foreign and domestic policies of the Israeli government, writing about the danger of Zionism to peace and to the Jewish people themselves. Kirpichenok lived for several years in Israel, graduated from the Hebrew University, served in the Israeli army, and later returned to Russia, although he retained his Israeli citizenship. When he presented his book "Israel. The Path to Disaster" at our Soviet Peace Fund in 2023, we were able to see that his anti-Zionist position is historically and legally precise, expresses respect for the Jewish and Palestinian peoples, and reflects deep knowledge of the material and a personal active political stance. While analyzing and criticizing Zionism, he has always advocated for peace in the Middle East and in defense of the rights of the Palestinian people to their independent sovereign state. Recently, he decisively condemned Israel's actions in Gaza, as well as the aggression of Israel and the US against Iran; he visited Iran, expressing his solidarity with it, and made reports about these trips. This is exactly what they do not want to forgive him for in the West.
We express extreme concern for the safety and health of Russian citizen Artem Kirpichenok detained in Israel, and demand his immediate release! Knowing the researcher personally, we are confident that he has committed no criminal acts, and his persecution is carried out for his sincere patriotic political convictions.
(Signature)
S. Baburin,
President of the International Association of Peace Foundations,
Doctor of Law, Professor,
Deputy Chairman of the State Duma
of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the 2nd and 4th convocations.
To: Anatoly Viktorov,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Russian Federation to the State of Israel
From: Daria Barabanova,
Actress, Choreographer, Ballet Master, and Director
APPEAL
Dear Mr. Ambassador,
I am writing to you regarding an emergency situation involving the detention in the State of Israel of my close friend, Artem Ivanovich Kirpichenok, a citizen of the Russian Federation born in 1975.
As a representative of the arts and culture sector—an actress, director, and choreographer—I am profoundly shaken by these events. My close friend, Artem Kirpichenok, has been detained by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet / Shabak) and is currently held in custody.
Mr. Artem Kirpichenok has no family or relatives. His social connections are concentrated exclusively within the professional community and his circle of colleagues, who are closely monitoring the developments of this situation.
The official grounds for his detention, his exact location, and his current procedural status remain undisclosed. Consequently, there is a severe threat of violation of his legal rights, including potential restrictions on his access to legal counsel.
Given that Mr. A. I. Kirpichenok is a citizen of the Russian Federation, I urgently request you and the members of the diplomatic mission to provide immediate consular assistance, specifically:
1. To submit an official inquiry to the Israeli authorities to establish the exact whereabouts of Mr. A. I. Kirpichenok and the grounds for his detention.
2. To ensure the full realization of his statutory right to consular access.
3. To place the protection of the rights and the conditions of detention of this Russian citizen under your personal supervision.
I kindly request that you inform me of the outcomes of this appeal via the aforementioned email address.
Respectfully yours.
They are Coming for the Penguins: Artem Ivanovich Kirpichenok is in a Shin Bet Prison in Israel
My friend Artem Ivanovich Kirpichenok would not hurt a fly. On 2 August 2026, he arrived in Tel Aviv and – somehow – ended up in prison. What we know is that he was arrested by the Shin Bet, Israel’s secret police. There has been no contact with him since. There has been no official reason for his detention. A historian and writer who is unusually gentle and kind has now disappeared into the Israeli prison system.
Artem was born and lived in St. Petersburg (Russia), although he lived in Israel for fifteen years and graduated from the Hebrew University (Jerusalem). He later took a PhD in History from the Department of Slavic Studies at the Center for Arab-Eurasian Studies. Working as a journalist, Artem wrote for TRT Russian (Turkey) and Caliber (Azerbaijan), where he reported on the Israeli policy toward the Palestinians and on the Israeli war on Gaza. In 2018, Artem travelled to Iran, where he visited several cities and wrote about them on his personal blog.
During the past few days, agitated about Artem, I have taken refuge in literature produced in and about our city of St. Petersburg (when we were born there, it was Leningrad). In March 1901, Maxim Gorky published Song of the Stormy Petrel about an event in the city: students in the city protested over the conscription of their fellow student in Kyiv for a war that no-one wanted; and so, the Tsar’s Cossacks came to attack these students at Kazan Cathedral. The song appeared inside a longer satirical piece called Spring Melodies, which the authorities banned. Spring Melodies is set in a land of birds, where Siskin – a small bird who stands in for the youth – sings this song. Gorky slipped the song out of Spring Melodies and published it in the journal Life. That song was later canonized in the Soviet Union as a great revolutionary song.
I love the accident of it. The most dangerous text of that era slipped by the censors because it pretended to be a harmless little bird song. I never spoke with Artem about this song, but it is impossible to imagine that he would not have – like myself – memorized it and sung it in our Soviet schools.
There are two main characters in the song: the petrel and the penguin. The petrel fights the storm, ‘soars with pride’, and as the wind picks up, perishes, but with its dignity intact. The penguin, on the other hand, ‘hides his fat body among the crags’, and therefore survives the storm. But the storm has other ideas. To rewrite Gorky’s song, we must add in verses that show how the storm now hunts the penguin as well – how there is no escape from the wrath of the storm. Artem Kirpichenok is a charming and impractical man who belonged to no political party and no activist group, who never donated money to any political cause or signed any statement. He published books about history and wrote mostly ironic posts on his personal Facebook page. He was not a penguin (he held strong views on a range of topics), but he was not a petrel either (he did not advertise his views for the wider public).
Impossible not to have a view on Israeli government policy these days, but Artem’s views are not so different than those held by the mainstream Israeli newspaper Haaretz. In which case, the question is what has Artem done and why has he been sitting in a Shin Bet prison without habeas corpus for a week? If Artem had been part of a movement or a public figure, then there would be press releases demanding his release. But he is a private individual. So, who will stand for someone like him?
To arrest Artem is to make private individuals afraid and to make them internalize their penguin-like condition, to shut up, and sit quietly in the corner. Arresting a bespectacled writer with a narrow audience is both easy and makes for a perfectly instructive example. Before Artem was arrested, it seemed to many of us – me included – that there were ‘anomaly zones’ out there: in those anomaly zones, one could be somewhat safe from arbitrary arrest. It was felt that as long as you did not cross certain well understood line, you could write, read, and speak about pretty much anything. Don’t join a party, don’t donate to certain organizations, don’t say certain things. But the lines that seemed to exist have now been erased and what you whisper in your kitchen can now get you into a prison cell.
The everyday curdles into a nightmare. The kitchen and the prison are becoming the same room. We have become like frogs that do not notice that the water in which they are swimming has started to come to a boil. We have made straightforward cannibalism normal.
When Artem was arrested, his old blog opponents said, what did he expect, going to Israel, when he could have sat quietly in Petersburg and minded his own business. Sorry. That’s just the attitude of the frog. There are no safe places left. There are no crags left to hide a penguin. Artem is not the hero-petrel. He is much more like the penguin. And so, it is now getting clear to us, that the penguin hunt has begun. Anyone at all can be picked up and tossed into the darkness.
Gorky did not know much about penguins. Although they look defenseless, they can stand their ground as a pack and peck their way out of trouble; in water, penguins are agile and fast, forming ‘rafts’ to beat adversaries and escape. Artem needs his penguins to act in unison. Please make noise for him.
Nika Dubrovsky is the director of the David Graeber Institute.
Nika Dubrovsky is an artist and writer. She is the founder of the David Graeber Institute and the editor of Graeber books.
August 10, 2026
Let My People Go
Years ago, Americans and Israelis were called to support the Russian Jews trying to leave the Red Empire. Now it is other way around – a Russian-Israeli journalist was arrested upon his arrival in Tel Aviv Airport. The arrested by Shabak, the Israeli analogue of FBI (or Gestapo) is a really nice guy, Artyom Kirpichonok. He was born and brought up in St Petersburg, has been taken by his mother to Israel in 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed, studied history, obtained PhD in Jerusalem Hebrew University, and eventually returned to St Petersburg, the city of his childhood. Artyom wrote articles for the Russian and Turkish media, and was very active in counter-Zionist meetings. He was invited to many gatherings for solidarity with the Palestinians, penned a few short books, notably the People’s History of Israel (named so after Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the US). Artyom made his living by guiding tourists in St Petersburg, the beautiful city, the Capital of the Russian Empire of old. Artyom is a soft, modest, moderate guy, left-leaning without extreme. His arrest was a great shock for all his acquaintances.
It seems that he was enticed to come to Israel by the Shabak; though he frequently visited Israel, where he had a flat and many friends. In Israel, they have no habeas corpus, the secret service can keep its prisoners for years without trial and even without specific charges. Indeed, there are something like 2000 prisoners without charges, many are Palestinians, but the Jews also can get imprisoned without trial or charges.
His last published column in TRT was We are proud of being hated, previous one The Arab citizens of Israel from Ghetto to Apartheid. The most popular book by Artyom is The People’s History of Israel.
Detention of this kind man, a scholar of very moderate views, show us to what horror Israel is coming, surely it will be a big surprise for those who thought Jews are safe in Israel.
Israel Shamir
August 10, 2026
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