DATE=2/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245091
TITLE=RUSSIA TREASON (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIA'S SUPREME COURT THURSDAY REFUSED AN APPEAL TO DROP
SPYING AND TREASON CHARGES AGAINST RETIRED NAVY CAPTAIN ALEXANDER
NIKITIN. HE WAS CHARGED WITH EXPOSING STATE SECRETS IN AN
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT ABOUT NUCLEAR DUMPING PRACTICES IN RUSSIA'S
ARCTIC SEA. MR. NIKITIN INSISTS THE INFORMATION IN THE DOCUMENT
WAS NOT CLASSIFIED AT THE TIME IT WAS PUBLISHED. V-O-A'S EVE
CONANT IN MOSCOW HAS MORE.
TEXT: ALEXANDER NIKITIN RECEIVED THE JUDGMENT WITH A CLENCHED
JAW, ARMS TIGHTLY BY HIS SIDE. HIS TWO LAWYERS -- WHO HAVE
FOUGHT FOR THREE YEARS FOR HIS ACQUITTAL -- STOOD BY HIS SIDE.
AFTERWARDS, MR. NIKITIN TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS NOT SURPRISED BY
THE RULING, BUT WORRIES THE CASE MAY NEVER END.
///NIKITIN ACT IN RUSSIAN -- IN FULL AND FADE UNDER///
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ELSE THEY CAN FIND," HE SAYS. "THEY'VE
BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS FOR THREE AND HALF YEARS. SO HOW MUCH
LONGER CAN THIS GO ON?"
MR. NIKITIN WAS ARRESTED IN 1996 AND WAS HELD IN SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT WITHOUT ACCESS TO A LAWYER FOR TWO MONTHS. LAST
OCTOBER, A ST. PETERSBURG COURT RULED THE FEDERAL SECURITY
SERVICE -- THE F-S-B -- WOULD NEED TO COLLECT MORE EVIDENCE
AGAINST HIM. NOW, RUSSIA'S SUPREME COURT HAS AGREED.
DEIDERIK LOHMAN OF THE ORGANIZATION "HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH" ATTENDED
THURSDAY'S RULING. HE SAYS THE DECISION SHOWS EVEN RUSSIA'S
SUPREME COURT IS AFRAID TO TOUCH THE CASE.
///LOHMAN ACT///
THIS IS CHARACTERISTIC FOR THE SYSTEM IN RUSSIA -- THE
JUDICIAL SYSTEM. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLOSING A CASE, FOR TAKING A REAL
DECISION. BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, YOU STICK
OUT YOUR HEAD AND IT CAN GET CHOPPED OFF.
///END ACT///
PRESIDENT FREDERICK HAUGE OF NORWAY'S BELLONA FOUNDATION -- THE
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP THAT COAUTHORED MR. NIKITIN'S REPORT -- WAS
DISAPPOINTED, BUT STILL CALLED THE RULING A SMALL VICTORY.
///HAUGE ACT///
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT IMPORTANT DECISIONS,
WHICH PROVES THAT WE MADE SOME PROGRESS. AT LEAST THE
F-S-B (SECURITY SERVICES) DIDN'T WIN.
///END ACT///
RUSSIA'S SECURITY SERVICES HAVE ONE MONTH TO GATHER MORE MATERIAL
FOR THEIR CASE AGAINST MR. NIKITIN. BUT MR. NIKITIN'S LAWYERS
SAY THE DEADLINE CAN BE EXTENDED INDEFINITELY. UNTIL A FINAL
VERDICT IS REACHED, MR. NIKITIN MUST REMAIN IN ST. PETERSBURG
UNLESS THE SECURITY SERVICES GRANT HIM PERMISSION TO LEAVE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/EC/PCF/JO
04-Feb-99 10:48 AM EST (1548 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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