The Tel Aviv District Attorney on Monday served an indictment against Michael Dror, formerly the Israeli consul to Moscow, on the counts of taking bribe, forgery and breach of trust.

Dror served as consul in the years 1995-2002 during which he was responsible for issuing entry visas to Israel for Russian nationals. According to the charge-sheet, Dror took bribes totaling $20,000 from a travel agent named Georgy Rayneko in return for hundreds of entry visas.

Rayneko would visit the embassy several times a week. According to the indictment, Dror allowed him to enter the embassy via the employee entrance, against security procedures.

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In addition to periodical payments of $400 to Dror, Rayenko also covered the cost of a vacation for the-then consul and his wife, car repairs and other perks.

The indictment also charged that visa applications Rayneko submitted on behalf of Russian nationals relied on forged documents and Dror failed to conduct the checks necessary to verify their authenticity.

Dror also issued entry visas for nationals of other former Soviet Union republics, who are not Russian citizens, despite the fact it was not in his authority to do so. The several dozens who received those visas tried to enter Israel but were deported upon arrival.

In a separate count Dror is accused of forging a document and forcing his employees to print and sign it for him. The document, a letter written on behalf of his children, allegedly contained a request to forfeit their Israeli citizenship.

According to suspicion, Dror sought to use the document to secure Latvian citizenship for his children allowing them to obtain European Union passports when Latvia joins the EU.