Moscow court adjourns Jewish Agency hearing

STORY: Russia's justice ministry is seeking to liquidate the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency for alleged breaches of privacy laws.

Some Israeli politicians have expressed concern that Russia may be retaliating for Israel's position on the conflict in Ukraine, and about the effect that bilateral tensions might have on Russia's own Jewish community.

About 600,000 Russians are eligible to emigrate to Israel because of Jewish heritage, and officials say there has been a rise in applications since the dispute arose.

Judge Olga Lipkina at the Basmanny district court in Moscow agreed to give the defence team more time to study new documents presented in the case and ordered a new hearing for September 19.

Andrey Grishaev, a lawyer for the Jewish Agency, said the postponement of Friday's hearing was a positive step that would give the defence team more time to study new documents presented in the case. Grishaev told reporters he was confident the agency would be allowed to continue operating in Russia.