DATE=3/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / BABITSKY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260071
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A news report in Moscow says the Russian
prosecutor-general's office is bringing criminal
charges against Radio Liberty reporter Andrei
Babitsky, contending he aided Chechen rebels in their
fight against Russian forces. V-O-A correspondent Eve
Conant spoke with Mr. Babitsky, however, and she
reports he is unaware of any new charges against him.
TEXT: Russia's Interfax news agency says journalist
Andrei Babitsky has been formally charged with aiding
Chechen rebels, and if found guilty could face up to
five years in prison. But the Interfax report was
challenged in Moscow by Mr. Babitsky and other
officials.
Andrei Babitsky angered Russian authorities with his
reports from behind rebel lines. In January, he was
detained by Russian authorities in Chechnya, and then
disappeared for several weeks after a bizarre hostage
swap, which sparked international concern over
Russia's treatment of journalists. Mr. Babitsky was
later detained in Dagestan and charged with using a
false passport.
The news Friday of a second charge being brought
against him, however, was met with confusion in
Moscow. Mr. Babitsky told V-O-A he was unclear as to
what the Russian authorities were accusing him of, and
whether he really is facing new charges.
/// 1st BABITSKY ACT IN RUSSIAN--IN FULL, FADE ///
He says, "I only know of one charge against me - that
of using a forged passport. I don't really understand
what the authorities are doing right now, but it is as
criminal as what they've been doing to me for the past
few months."
// OPT // Mr. Babitsky said Russian authorities
earlier this week refused his request to leave the
country to speak to the Council of Europe. But he
said he met with a Council of Europe delegation in
Moscow on Friday and briefed them on the situation in
Chechnya. Mr. Babitsky had said earlier he was beaten
by Russian forces in the Chernokozovo detention camp,
and that he heard the cries of inmates being tortured
there. // END OPT //
Earlier Friday, Russia's Deputy Justice Minister Yuri
Kalinin said the Radio Liberty reporter was facing a
new charge, but did not outline the nature of the
accusation.
/// KALININ ACT IN RUSSIAN--IN FULL, FADE UNDER ///
He says, "As far as I know, a charge was filed
yesterday [Thursday] against Babitsky. An
investigation will show the true picture and there
will most likely be a trial."
Mr. Babitsky told V-O-A he will work within the legal
framework to prove his innocence. He says he believes
the charge of aiding rebels was filed against him in
January, during his detention in the Chernokozovo
camp, but later dropped.
/// OPT 2ND BABITSKY ACT IN RUSSIAN-IN, FADE UNDER ///
He says, "The charge that I aided Chechen rebels was
actually filed against me in January while I was at
Chernokozovo, but my lawyers were not allowed to
review the case materials." Until Friday's events, he
says, he was only aware of an investigation into the
passport-forgery charge. "But then," he adds, "the
Interior Minister said there were two charges against
me." // END OPT //
Russian television news quoted Interior Minister
Vladimir Rushailo Friday as saying Mr. Babitsky was
being investigated for two crimes - for helping
illegal rebel groups and for forging documents.
Another report (by the Associated Press) quotes a
ministry spokesman as denying there are any new
charges against Mr. Babitsky, although the Radio
Liberty reporter is still under investigation. The
prosecutor general's office was not available for
comment. (Signed)
NEB/EC/GE/WTW
10-Mar-2000 13:46 PM EDT (10-Mar-2000 1846 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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