Russia presses Israel over ownership of Alexander's Courtyard in Jerusalem

Russia is reportedly stepping up pressure on Israel to transfer ownership of the historic Alexander's Courtyard in Jerusalem’s Old City, with the Russian ambassador to Israel making an unusual visit to the site last Saturday.

Ambassador Anatoly Viktorov led a large delegation to the complex, which included employees of the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv, family members and Russian Orthodox nuns who had traveled from Russia for the visit.

The visit came after the Russian Embassy announced that the process of re-registering the property in the name of the Russian Federation had entered its “final stages.”

Israeli officials, however, have made clear that the matter remains under review and that no final decision on ownership has been made.

Alexander's Courtyard covers approximately 1,300 sq. m. (2,500 sq. ft.) and includes the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Alexander Nevsky, built in the late 19th century. Located a short walk from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the compound also contains other buildings and archaeological remains associated with the Russian Orthodox presence in Jerusalem.

The ownership dispute dates back to 1917, following the Russian Revolution and the collapse of the Russian Empire.

The Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS), which was involved in establishing the Russian presence at the site, maintains that the property belongs to the organization and that it has continued operating and maintaining the site throughout the political upheavals of the 20th century.

Russia, meanwhile, maintains that ownership passed from the Russian Empire to the Soviet Union and, following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, to the Russian Federation.

The Israeli government began moving toward transferring the property to Russian ownership in 2020, but the move was challenged in court. The dispute has since been the subject of several legal and government proceedings, with the government continuing to review the matter.

Moscow has repeatedly pressed Jerusalem in recent years to complete the transfer. According to the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Russia has intensified its efforts over the past year, while an Israeli government committee has been examining the issue.

In a recent interview with the Russian media outlet RTVI, Viktorov said, “The courtyard is ours, Russia’s courtyard. There is no need for negotiations on this. We only need to complete the legal procedures.”

The ambassador’s visit on Saturday comes as Moscow continues to publicly assert its ownership claim while the Israeli government has yet to make a final decision.

The issue has also drawn attention from Israeli security analysts. In a study published last month, the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) said the Russian Orthodox Church in Israel has become increasingly aligned with the Russian state under President Vladimir Putin and plays a role in Moscow’s efforts to expand its influence in Israel and the region.

The study also warned that transferring the Alexander's Courtyard property could give Russia an additional foothold in Jerusalem. It noted that Russian officials have previously identified other historic properties in Israel that Moscow could seek to acquire.

The dispute comes as Israel prepares for national elections on Oct. 27, adding uncertainty to the government’s handling of the Russian ownership claim.