DATE=12/24/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-224495 TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA SPY (S ALT) BYLINE=MICHELE KELEMEN DATELINE=MOSCOW CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// ED'S: MAY BE USED AS AN ALTERNATE TO CR 2-224490 /// INTRO: AN AMERICAN CHARGED WITH SPYING IN RUSSIA IS BEING ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MICHELE KELEMEN IN MOSCOW REPORTS A RUSSIAN OFFICIAL SAYS THE AMERICAN, RICHARD BLISS, WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO RUSSIA ONLY IF INVESTIGATORS SAY SO. TEXT: A SPOKESMAN FOR RUSSIA'S FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE CALLS THIS A HUMANITARIAN GESTURE. HE SAYS WHENEVER THE MAIN INVESTIGATOR WANTS RICHARD BLISS TO COME BACK TO RUSSIA, THE 29-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN WILL HAVE TO MAKE THE TRIP. BUT, THE SPOKESMAN SUGGESTED THE CASE MAY BE RESOLVED THROUGH POLITICAL CHANNELS. U-S OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN URGING RUSSIA TO DROP CHARGES AGAINST MR. BLISS, WHO WORKS FOR THE CALIFORNIA-BASED TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY QUALCOMM. HE WAS ARRESTED IN ROSTOV-ON-DON NOVEMBER 25TH AND SPENT 12 DAYS IN JAIL FOR ALLEGEDLY SURVEYING SENSITIVE AREAS WHILE SETTING UP A CELLULAR TELEPHONE NETWORK. HE HAS ADMITTED CARRYING OUT THE WORK, BUT DENIES HE IS A SPY. THE U-S GOVERNMENT CALLS THE CASE GROUNDLESS. (SIGNED) NEB/MLK/JWH 24-Dec-97 10:51 AM EST (1551 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America
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