DATE=2/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245214
TITLE=RUSSIA TREASON (S&L)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE TREASON TRIAL OF A RUSSIAN NAVY CAPTAIN AND
JOURNALIST RESUMES MONDAY IN A VLADIVOSTOCK MILITARY COURT.
FOURTEEN-MONTHS AGO THE CAPTAIN REVEALED THE DUMPING OF MILITARY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE AT SEA. HE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH
ESPIONAGE AND REVEALING STATE SECRETS. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT
REPORTS FROM VLADIVOSTOCK.
TEXT: IF FOUND GUILTY OF TREASON, CAPTAIN GRIGORY PASKO COULD
FACE UP TO 20-YEARS IN PRISON.
THE 37-YEAR OLD NAVY OFFICER WHO BECAME A FREE-LANCE JOURNALIST
TO SUPPLEMENT HIS NAVY PAY CLAIMED THE RUSSIAN NAVY WAS DUMPING
WEAPONS AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE INTO THE PACIFIC. HE PROVIDED
VIDEOTAPES AND MATERIAL TO THE JAPANESE TELEVISION NETWORK,
N-H-K, AND THE MATERIAL WAS INCLUDED IN REPORT ON DUMPING OF
MILITARY WASTE.
IN NOVEMBER 1997, CAPTAIN PASKO WAS ARRESTED BY THE FEDERAL
SECURITY SERVICES, KNOWN IN SOVIET TIMES AS THE K-G-B. HE WAS
CHARGED WITH HIGH TREASON.
SECURITY SERVICES RAIDED HIS APARTMENT, CONFISCATING HIS
COMPUTER, FAX MACHINE, AND CAR. HE WAS DENIED BAIL AND BEGAN
WHAT HAS EXTENDED INTO A 14-MONTH PRISON TERM. THE HUMAN RIGHTS
GROUP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS DECLARED HIM A "PRISONER OF
CONSCIENCE."
CAPTAIN PASKO HAS SAID THE INFORMATION HE RELEASED WAS OBTAINED
THROUGH LEGAL CHANNELS. SECURITY AUTHORITIES CONTEND THOSE
PAPERS WERE TOP SECRET.
// REST OPT //
DEFENSE LAWYER OLEG KOTLEROV TOLD V-O-A THE SECURITY SERVICE IS
GUILTY OF A SERIES OF LEGAL VIOLATIONS IN THEIR HANDLING OF THE
CASE.
/// ACT KOTLEROV IN RUSSIAN ///
MR. KOTLEROV SAYS -- THIS CASE CAN IN NO WAY BE CONSIDERED
DEMOCRATIC. THE HEARING WILL BE CLOSED, NO PRESS IS ALLOWED, AND
PROSECUTORS ARE USING ALL THEIR POWER TO SILENCE HIS LAWYERS.
YAROSLAVL GEREN, WHO IS ALSO REPRESENTING THE CAPTAIN, SAYS HE
BELIEVES THE ARREST IS RELATED TO HIS CLIENT'S RESEARCH INTO
JAPANESE FUNDING FOR TOXIC-WASTE DISPOSAL. THOSE FUNDS MAY HAVE
BEEN MISAPPROPRIATED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY.
MONDAY, HE WILL TRY TO POSTPONE THE TRIAL DUE TO CAPTAIN PASKO'S
MEDICAL CONDITION FOLLOWING HIS 14-MONTHS IN PRISON.
/// ACT GERIN IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER ///
MR. GERIN SAYS THE DEFENDANT'S HEALTH IS SERIOUSLY DETERIORATING.
HE HAS BACK PAIN, SKIN DISEASE, AND HE IS UNDER GREAT
PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE. HE SAYS EVEN MURDERERS ARE NOT PUT INTO
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.
CAPTAIN PASKO'S LAWYERS SAY THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT HE DID
ANYTHING ILLEGAL. THEY WILL ARGUE MONDAY THAT IF ANYONE IS
BREAKING THE LAW, IT IS RUSSIA'S FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICES, NOT
GRIGORI PASKO. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/DW/RAE
07-Feb-99 11:18 AM EST (1618 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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