DATE=2/9/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42554
TITLE=RUSSIA / TREASON
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=VLADIVOSTOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
///// ED'S: PASKO TRIAL RESUMES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH. /////
INTRO: THE TREASON TRIAL OF A NAVY OFFICER IN RUSSIA'S FAR EAST
IS RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN
RUSSIA. THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP "AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL" HAS
DESIGNATED NAVY CAPTAIN GRIGORY PASKO A PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE.
OTHERS SAY HE ALSO MAY BE A PRISONER OF RUSSIA'S INCOMPLETE
EFFORTS TO OVERCOME A LEGACY OF OFFICIAL SECRECY, LATE NIGHT
SEARCHES, AND CENSORSHIP. V-O-A'S EVE CONANT IS IN VLADIVOSTOK.
TEXT: CAPTAIN GRIGORY PASKO IS CHARGED WITH HIGH TREASON AND
ESPIONAGE. HE WROTE FOR A NAVY NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE DUMPING OF
MILITARY NUCLEAR WASTE AT SEA. HE ALSO SOLD SOME OF HIS MATERIAL
TO THE JAPANESE TELEVISION NETWORK, N-H-K.
RUSSIA'S FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE, THE F-S-B -- A SUCCESSOR
AGENCY TO THE K-G-B -- ARRESTED CAPTAIN PASKO IN 1997, POSSIBLY
DUE TO A REPORT ON JAPANESE TELEVISION ABOUT THE MILITARY'S
DUMPING PRACTICES. THE SPECIFIC CHARGES IN THE 10-POINT
INDICTMENT AGAINST HIM ARE CLASSIFIED. HE MAINTAINS HE OBTAINED
INFORMATION THROUGH LEGAL CHANNELS.
THE NIGHT OF HIS ARREST, AGENTS SEARCHED HIS HOUSE, CONFISCATING
HIS COMPUTER, FAX MACHINE, AND FAMILY CAR. THE 36-YEAR-OLD NAVAL
OFFICER HAS BEEN IN PRISON FOR 14-MONTHS, BUT HAS YET TO BE
CONVICTED OF ANY CRIME. DEFENSE LAWYERS SAY CAPTAIN PASKO IS
BEING KEPT IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. HE LEAVES THE CELL ONLY
UNDER GUARD FOR BRIEF APPEARANCES IN THE CLOSED MILITARY COURT
THAT IS DECIDING HIS CASE.
DEFENSE LAWYERS SAY PROSECUTORS ARE VIOLATING THE RUSSIAN
CONSTITUTION AND HUMAN-RIGHTS NORMS. ONE OF CAPTAIN PASKO'S
LAWYERS HAS BEEN OUSTED FROM THE COURTROOM, THE JOURNALIST AND
OFFICER IS DENIED ACCESS TO THE MEDIA, AND, INSTEAD OF THE USUAL
JURY, THE CASE IS BEING DECIDED BY ONE MILITARY JUDGE AND TWO
MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES.
CAPTAIN PASKO'S WIFE, GALINA MOROZOVA SAYS THE PROCEEDINGS HAVE
SHATTERED ANY IDEAS SHE HAD THAT RUSSIA HAS REFORMED.
/// MOROZOVA ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
SHE SAYS UNTIL HER HUSBAND'S ARREST, SHE HAD LIVED IN THE BELIEF
OF DEMOCRACY, OF OPENNESS. BUT SHE SAYS GOVERNMENT AGENTS THEN
CAME AND VIOLATED HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.
SHE SAYS SHE REMEMBERS DISCUSSIONS WITH HER HUSBAND JUST AS HE
STARTED TO INVESTIGATE NUCLEAR DUMPING.
/// MOROZOVA ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
SHE SAYS HE TOLD HER AS SOON AS HE BEGAN THE INVESTIGATION HE
FELT THE SECURITY SERVICES' PRESENCE. SHE SAYS THEY ARE NOT
EVEN PROFESSIONAL, YOU KNOW WHEN THEY ARE BREATHING DOWN YOUR
NECK.
THE MILITARY JUDGE AND PROSECUTORS IN THE CASE ARE NOT ALLOWED
TO SPEAK TO THE MEDIA AS THE CASE REPORTEDLY INVOLVES TOP-SECRET
INFORMATION.
A LOCAL NEWSPAPER, CALLED "VLADIVOSTOK" PRINTED AN INTERVIEW WITH
FEDERAL SECURITY CHIEF OF THE PACIFIC FLEET NIKOLAI SATSKOV. THE
NEWSPAPER REPORTS THE F-S-B OFFICIAL SAID CAPTAIN PASKO IS NOT
BEING CHARGED AS A JOURNALIST, HE IS BEING CHARGED AS A NAVY
OFFICER.
THE NEWSPAPER ALSO QUOTED HIM AS SAYING CAPTAIN PASKO'S
ECOLOGICAL REPORTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHARGES AGAINST
HIM. HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THE MATTER IS MORE SERIOUS -- HE
SAYS CAPTAIN PASKO HANDED OVER TOP SECRET INFORMATION VITAL TO
THE SECURITY OF THE PACIFIC FLEET.
THE MAIN SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRIAL ARE CAPTAIN
PASKO'S LAWYERS. ONE OF THEM -- KHAREN NIRSISYAN -- WAS EXPELLED
FROM COURT AFTER ASKING A WITNESS IF HE WAS EMPLOYED BY THE
SECURITY SERVICES. MR. NIRSISYAN SAYS HE SEES NO DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN TRIALS UNDER THE SOVIET SYSTEM AND NOW.
/// NIRSISYAN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
HE SAYS TRIALS IN RUSSIA ARE NOT ABOUT DISCOVERING THE TRUTH.
HE SAYS THEY ARE A MECHANISM OF REPRESSION.
CAPTAIN PASKO'S CASE ALSO MAY BE A TEST OF RUSSIA'S WILLINGNESS
TO CONFRONT ECOLOGICAL ABUSES. HIS CASE IS NOT UNIQUE. HE HAS
REQUESTED THE HELP OF TWO LAWYERS WHO ARE DEFENDING ALEXANDER
NIKITIN, A FORMER NAVAL OFFICER ALSO CHARGED WITH HIGH TREASON
AND ESPIONAGE FOR REVEALING ALLEGED ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSES IN
RUSSIA'S FAR NORTH. MR. NIKITIN'S TRIAL HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS
MORE THAN THREE-YEARS AND NO VERDICT HAS BEEN REACHED.
CAPTAIN PASKO WAS ABLE TO SHOUT ONE COMMENT AS POLICEMEN HUSTLED
HIM INTO A LOCKED CHAMBER BESIDE THE COURTROOM. HE COMPARED HIS
ORDEAL TO SOVIET TRIALS WHICH SENT MILLIONS OF POLITICAL
PRISONERS TO LANGUISH IN WORK CAMPS. HE SAID -- THIS IS A GULAG
TRIAL, RECORD THAT AND TELL EVERYONE. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH/RAE
09-Feb-99 8:35 AM EST (1335 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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