DATE= 12/5/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223712

TITLE=RUSSIA / SPY CASE (S-UPDATE)

BYLINE=MICHELE KELEMEN

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



         ///  EDS:  THIS REPORT UPDATES CR 2-223708  ///



INTRO:  RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE FORMALLY CHARGED AN AMERICAN

ENGINEER WITH SPYING.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MICHELE KELEMEN

REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.



TEXT:  RUSSIA'S SECURITY SERVICE CHARGE RICHARD BLISS GATHERED

SECRET INFORMATION WHEN HE WAS DOING LAND SURVEYS IN THE CITY OF

ROSTOV.  SECURITY AGENTS SAY HE USED SATELLITE RECEIVERS THAT

WERE BROUGHT INTO RUSSIA ILLEGALLY.  HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH

ESPIONAGE.



THE 29-YEAR-OLD WORKS FOR THE SAN-DIEGO CALIFORNIA BASED

TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY QUALCOMM, WHICH HAS CONTRACTS TO

INSTALL CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS IN ROSTOV AND OTHER CITIES.

THE RUSSIAN FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE SAYS HE ADMITS USING THE

ILLEGAL EQUIPMENT FOR HIS WORK, BUT HE DENIES BEING INVOLVED IN

ESPIONAGE.



MR. BLISS HAS BEEN IN CUSTODY SINCE HE WAS ARRESTED NOVEMBER

25TH.  THE U-S EMBASSY INSISTS HE HAS  NO  TIES TO THE U-S

GOVERNMENT AND IS  NOT  A SPY.  (SIGNED)



05-Dec-97 10:22 AM EST (1522 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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