An Israeli man is accusing his Russian ex-wife’s mother of involvement in kidnapping the couple’s child and taking her to Russia. The State Prosecutor wants to send a 69-year-old grandmother to prison for 20 years. If th

Russian-born Isabella Belfer has already been found guilty of helping her daughter leave Israel for Moscow with her six-year-old child.

Isabella left with them and returned five years later to look after her ailing mother.

And in the absence of her daughter, Marina, the state is charging Isabella with kidnapping.  She says her daughter will never go back to Israel.

“Her ex-husband never loved his daughter. He never paid maintenance. I don’t remember him ever buying her a single present. Now she’s in Moscow where she’s happy. I love her very much and speak to her almost every day on the telephone,” Isabella Belfer said.

Marina married an Israeli man with a dream of starting a new life. But the marriage ended in disaster and charges of domestic violence.

Marina Belfer took her child to Russia illegally

The couple’s daughter, Lilach, was sent to live with her mother who later took her out of the country illegally.

Her father, Yaron Rotem, hasn’t seen the child for six years. He says he's both looking forward to and dreading meeting her again.

“My mother is also a grandmother of Lilach. My mother loved Lilach very much, but she will not be able to see her again,” Rotem said.

The case is making legal history in Israel.  It could set a precedent whereby parents can be charged with their children’s offences.

Defence lawyer Michael Yarnin says in the past a case like this would never make it to court.

“My client will appeal to the Supreme Court because she still thinks she is innocent. We will fight further,” Yarnin said.

Meanwhile Isabella’s daughter Marina says she will not return to Israel.

Actually it’s a choice no mother should ever have to make – to save her daughter or her mother.

Back in Tel Aviv, the fate of Marina’s mother will be decided in two weeks’ time.