DATE=11/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242294
TITLE=SWISS / RUSSIA MAFIA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE ALLEGED LEADER OF A RUSSIAN ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP HAS
GONE ON TRIAL IN GENEVA AMID UNPRECEDENTED SECURITY. LISA
SCHLEIN REPORTS SWISS AUTHORITIES ARE INCREASINGLY CONCERNED BY
WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF RUSSIAN
CRIMINALS IN SWITZERLAND.
TEXT: SERGEI MIKHAILOV IS CHARGED WITH BEING A MEMBER OF A
MOSCOW-BASED CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION AND OF BREAKING SWISS PROPERTY
LAWS. IF CONVICTED, HE COULD FACE SEVEN-AND-ONE-HALF YEARS IN
PRISON.
/// OPT /// WHEN MR. MIKHAILOV WAS ARRESTED AT GENEVA'S
AIRPORT TWO YEARS AGO, HE WAS ACCUSED OF MONEY LAUNDERING. BUT
THAT CHARGE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DROPPED BECAUSE SWISS INVESTIGATORS
FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GATHER EVIDENCE IN RUSSIA. /// END OPT
///
MR. MIKHAILOV HAS SPENT THE PAST TWO YEARS IN GENEVA'S CHAMP
DOLLON PRISON FROM WHERE SWISS OFFICIALS SAY HE HAS BEEN RUNNING
HIS ORGANIZATION'S CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. MR. MIKHAILOV DENIES ALL
CHARGES AND SAYS HE IS JUST AN ORDINARY BUSINESSMAN.
THE TRIAL IS SUPPOSED TO LAST TWO WEEKS. BUT IF THE DEFENDANT'S
LAWYERS HAVE THEIR WAY, IT WILL GO ON FOR A LOT LONGER. MR.
MIKHAILOV ARRIVED AT THE COURTHOUSE IN A BULLET-PROOF LIMOUSINE.
HE LOOKED RELAXED AS HIS LAWYERS MADE THE FIRST OF WHAT IS LIKELY
TO BE A SERIES OF PROCEDURAL MOTIONS AIMED AT DELAYING THE
PROCESS.
THE LAWYERS ASKED THE JUDGE TO POSTPONE THE TRIAL ON THE GROUNDS
THAT THEIR CLIENT'S CASE WAS IRREVOCABLY DAMAGED BY BIASED MEDIA
REPORTING AND THE UNPRECEDENTED SECURITY MEASURES. AFTER A SHORT
ADJOURNMENT, THE JUDGE DENIED THE MOTION.
AS SOON AS THE TRIAL RESUMED, THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS LODGED
ANOTHER APPEAL. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE CASE AGAINST THEIR CLIENT
WAS INVALID UNDER EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS LAW.
THIS TRIAL IS SEEN AS AN IMPORTANT TEST CASE BY SWISS AUTHORITIES
WHO FEAR THE GROWING PRESENCE OF RUSSIAN ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE
COUNTRY. THIS IS SEEN AS THE FIRST MAJOR ATTEMPT BY THE SWISS TO
TRY TO CURB RUSSIAN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.
MORE THAN 90 WITNESSES, SPEAKING SIX DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, ARE
EXPECTED TO BE CALLED TO TESTIFY. THEY ARE UNDER HEAVY POLICE
PROTECTION. IN SOME CASES, WITNESSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN
BULLET-PROOF VESTS. ONE OF THE KEY WITNESSES WILL BE A FORMER
MOSCOW POLICE OFFICER WHO HAS BEEN GRANTED POLITICAL ASYLUM IN
SWITZERLAND. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/KL
30-Nov-98 10:53 AM EST (1553 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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