DATE=2/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245048
TITLE=RUSSIA/TREASON (L-ONLY)
  BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  RETIRED RUSSIAN NAVY CAPTAIN ALEKSANDER NIKITIN WILL 
APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY'S SUPREME COURT THURSDAY TO HAVE THE 
TREASON CASE AGAINST HIM DISMISSED (EDS: APPEAL SKEDDED TO START 
800 UTC -- 3 AM EDT). MR. NIKITIN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH EXPOSING 
MILITARY SECRETS IN A REPORT ABOUT DECADES OF ACCIDENTS WHICH 
OCCURRED ON SOVIET NUCLEAR SUBMARINES.  CORRESPONDENT LAURIE 
KASSMAN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT:  LAST OCTOBER, A ST. PETERSBURG COURT DECIDED THE 
PROSECUTION'S CASE AGAINST ALEKSANDER NIKITIN WAS TOO VAGUE AND 
SENT IT BACK TO THE FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICES FOR FURTHER 
INVESTIGATION. 

THE PROSECUTION APPEALED TO THE RUSSIAN SUPREME COURT TO HAVE THE
CASE HEARD AGAIN IMMEDIATELY.  MR NIKITIN'S LAWYERS APPEALED TO 
GET THE CASE DISMISSED FOR LACK OF SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.

NOW, THE SUPREME COURT MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO EITHER UPHOLD THE 
LOWER COURT'S VERDICT, LET THE CASE BE HEARD AGAIN, OR ACQUIT 
ALEKSANDER NIKITIN.

MR. NIKITIN INSISTS HE IS INNOCENT.

         ///NIKITIN IN RUSSIAN -- ESTABLISH AND FADE ///

MR. NIKITIN SAYS HE DID NOT VIOLATE ANY SECRETS ACT IN HIS 
ENVIRONMENT REPORT ON RUSSIA'S NORTHERN FLEET.  "ALL THE CLAIMS 
AGAINST ME," HE SAYS, "ARE BASELESS AND THAT HAS BEEN PROVED IN 

COURT."

THE FORMER NAVY CAPTAIN IS CHARGED WITH BETRAYING STATE SECRETS 
IN A 1996 REPORT HE CO-AUTHORED FOR THE NORWEGIAN ENVIRONMENTAL 
GROUP "BELLONA."  THE REPORT TALKS ABOUT NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL 
PRACTICES OF RUSSIA'S NORTHERN FLEET.  MR. NIKITIN ARGUES THAT 
NONE OF THE MATERIAL HE PUBLISHED WAS CLASSIFIED AT THE TIME.

RUSSIA'S FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICES -- THE SUCCESSOR TO THE K-G-B 
-- ARRESTED MR. NIKITIN THREE YEARS AGO AND DETAINED HIM FOR 10 
MONTHS.  SINCE HIS RELEASE, HE HAS  NOT  BEEN ALLOWED TO LEAVE 
HIS HOMETOWN OF ST. PETERSBURG WITHOUT SPECIAL PERMISSION.

BELLONA'S PRESIDENT, FREDERIC HAUGE (PRON: HOWG) SAYS THE CASE 
HAS MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO TRACK NUCLEAR
HAZARDS IN NORTHWESTERN RUSSIA. 

                        // HAUGE ACT ///

         OF COURSE OUR WORK HAS BEEN DELAYED IN THESE PAST THREE 
         YEARS.  YOU CAN SEE SOME SIGNALS NOW THAT PEOPLE IN THE 
         MURMANSK AREA IN THE NORTHWEST OF RUSSIA ARE SO AFRAID. 
         THEY CONTACT US AGAIN AND THEY TELL US VERY SCARY 
         STORIES.  AND WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT ACCIDENTS HAPPENING IN
         THIS AREA. 

                          //END ACT ///

MR. HAUGE SAYS MANY EXPERTS FEAR THEY WILL BECOME THE NEXT 
TARGET, IF THEY SPEAK OUT.

BELLONA HAS ACCUSED RUSSIA OF NEGLIGENCE IN HANDLING THE NUCLEAR 
WASTE GENERATED BY THE NORTHERN FLEET OF SUBMARINES BASED IN 
MURMANSK. ITS REPORTS ALSO HAVE DETAILED ACCIDENTS LIKE FIRES AND
RADIATION LEAKS ABOARD THE SUBMARINES.

//OPT THE REST /// THE NIKITIN CASE HAS DRAWN INTERNATIONAL 
ATTENTION.  U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT BROUGHT IT 
UP DURING HER TALKS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS LAST WEEK. (SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/PCF

03-Feb-99 12:55 PM EST (1755 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.