DATE=2/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA/BABITSKY (L)
NUMBER=2-259596
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian officials say Radio Liberty reporter
Andrei Babitsky has been detained in the Russian
republic of Dagestan for carrying a false passport in
the name of a citizen of Azerbaijan. Mr. Babitsky,
whose reports on the Chechnya offensive angered
Russian officials, had been missing for weeks after
being detained by Russian authorities in Chechnya and
then allegedly released to Chechen rebels in a bizarre
hostage swap. V-O-A Moscow correspondent Eve Conant
reports.
TEXT: War correspondent Babitsky's whereabouts had
been unknown until he made a surprise phone call to
his wife Lyudmila on Friday. Russian news agencies
report Mr. Babitsky has been arrested by police in
Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, for carrying a
false passport in the name of a citizen of Azerbaijan.
Russian officials say he is the focus of a criminal
investigation and could face up to two years in jail
if found guilty of forging documents. Russian news
agencies quote prosecutors as saying Mr. Babitsky is
also under investigation for his alleged involvement
with Chechen rebel fighters.
These developments are the latest in a strange series
of incidents surrounding the journalist, who had
angered Moscow by his reports from behind rebel lines
in the Chechnya offensive.
Many of the reporter's colleagues had feared he was
dead, and Mr. Babitsky's detention in January and then
mysterious disappearance had raised concern over
Russia's commitment to a free press. Russian and
western journalists and officials urged Moscow to
reveal details about his case, but were most often
told that he was in the hands of Chechen rebels.
Details of his whereabouts were unknown until his
telephone call to his wife Friday, informing her he
had spent a month in Chechnya and was presently in
Dagestan.
Interior Ministry press spokesman Oleg Aksyonov
confirmed Mr. Babitsky's detention but gave no further
details.
/// AKSYONOV ACT IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND
FADE UNDER ///
He says, "I can only say that he has been detained in
Makhachkala for holding a false passport. We are now
investigating this."
Mr. Babitsky's wife, Lyudmila, told Russian television
she was shocked by the news her husband was facing
charges and said she would go to Dagestan as soon as
possible.
/// BABITSKAYA ACT IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND
FADE UNDER ///
She says, "Now that I know for sure where he is, I
will go there immediately. If I had known before
where my husband was, I would have gone there." She
says, "No one knew where he was."
The U-S funded Radio Liberty has strongly denied
Moscow's charges that Mr. Babitsky in any way assisted
rebel fighters. (Signed)
NEB/EC/ALW/JP
26-Feb-2000 08:44 AM EDT (26-Feb-2000 1344 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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