The Jerusalem District Court on Thursday ordered to release 18-year-old Tatiana Kuzmina, after the Population and Immigration Authority detained her two weeks ago, ahead of deportation.

"What will she do? Escape to the (Palestinian) territories?" asked the judge, criticizing the decision to hold Kuzmina in detention.

The Interior Ministry decided to deport Kuzmina claiming that her biological father, who lives in Russia, only allowed his daughter to live in Israel as long as she is a minor, and in order for her to complete her studies.





'I'm ashamed of handcuffs.' Kuzmina in court (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Kuzmina, who immigrated to Israel with her mother two years ago, told the court that she is "ashamed to be in handcuffs", and that she only wants to go home.

"I am not used to this. I don't know what I'm doing in detention with handcuffs. I just want to return to my family as quickly as possible. I am ashamed. What will my friends think?" Kuzmina told the court during the hearing.

Two weeks ago, Oz Unit inspectors detained Kuzmina in her Afula home. The Interior Ministry claimed that Kuzmina's mother, Lilly, did not include her in the naturalization process, and that now that she has turned 18, she can no longer be included in the process, and therefore should be deported.

In an appeal filed by the family, Kuzmina's mother claimed that she was certain her daughter was included in the application for permanent status, and only realized that she was not several months ago. The mother also disputed the Ministry's claim that Kuzmina's father did not authorize her stay in Israel, saying that as an adult, her daughter should no longer require the consent of a parent.

Following the proceedings, the judge ordered to release Kuzmina under limiting conditions until a final decision has been reached. The judge further noted that it was problematic to deport someone due to the request of a biological parent, after he or she have already turned into adults by law.

The family's representative, Attorney Adi Lustigman, said following the hearing that "there was no reason to arrest a young woman during the late hours of the night as if she was a common criminal.

"She complied with all the regulations of the Interior Ministry, and I believe that the court will continue to enforce the law and will eventually grant Tatiana permanent status like her mother."

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