DATE=2/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245091
TITLE=RUSSIA TREASON (L-ONLY)
 BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  RUSSIA'S SUPREME COURT THURSDAY REFUSED AN APPEAL TO DROP
SPYING AND TREASON CHARGES AGAINST RETIRED NAVY CAPTAIN ALEXANDER
NIKITIN.  HE WAS CHARGED WITH EXPOSING STATE SECRETS IN AN 
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT ABOUT NUCLEAR DUMPING PRACTICES IN RUSSIA'S 
ARCTIC SEA.  MR. NIKITIN INSISTS THE INFORMATION IN THE DOCUMENT 
WAS  NOT  CLASSIFIED AT THE TIME IT WAS PUBLISHED. V-O-A'S EVE 
CONANT IN MOSCOW HAS MORE. 

TEXT:  ALEXANDER NIKITIN RECEIVED THE JUDGMENT WITH A CLENCHED 
JAW, ARMS TIGHTLY BY HIS SIDE.  HIS TWO LAWYERS -- WHO HAVE 
FOUGHT FOR THREE YEARS FOR HIS ACQUITTAL -- STOOD BY HIS SIDE. 
AFTERWARDS, MR. NIKITIN TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS  NOT  SURPRISED BY 
THE RULING, BUT WORRIES THE CASE MAY NEVER END. 

     ///NIKITIN ACT IN RUSSIAN -- IN FULL AND FADE UNDER///

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ELSE THEY CAN FIND," HE SAYS. "THEY'VE 
BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS FOR THREE AND HALF YEARS.  SO HOW MUCH 
LONGER CAN THIS GO ON?"

MR. NIKITIN WAS ARRESTED IN 1996 AND WAS HELD IN SOLITARY 
CONFINEMENT WITHOUT ACCESS TO A LAWYER FOR TWO MONTHS.  LAST 
OCTOBER, A ST. PETERSBURG COURT RULED THE FEDERAL SECURITY 
SERVICE -- THE F-S-B -- WOULD NEED TO COLLECT MORE EVIDENCE 
AGAINST HIM.  NOW, RUSSIA'S SUPREME COURT HAS AGREED.

DEIDERIK LOHMAN OF THE ORGANIZATION "HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH" ATTENDED
THURSDAY'S RULING.  HE SAYS THE DECISION SHOWS EVEN RUSSIA'S 
SUPREME COURT IS AFRAID TO TOUCH THE CASE.

                        ///LOHMAN ACT///

         THIS IS CHARACTERISTIC FOR THE SYSTEM IN RUSSIA -- THE 
         JUDICIAL SYSTEM. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TAKE 
         RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLOSING A CASE, FOR TAKING A REAL 
         DECISION.  BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, YOU STICK
         OUT YOUR HEAD AND IT CAN GET CHOPPED OFF.

                          ///END ACT///

PRESIDENT FREDERICK HAUGE OF NORWAY'S BELLONA FOUNDATION -- THE 
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP THAT COAUTHORED MR. NIKITIN'S REPORT -- WAS 
DISAPPOINTED, BUT STILL CALLED THE RULING A SMALL VICTORY.

                         ///HAUGE ACT///

         THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT IMPORTANT DECISIONS, 
         WHICH PROVES THAT WE MADE SOME PROGRESS. AT LEAST THE 
         F-S-B (SECURITY SERVICES) DIDN'T WIN.

                          ///END ACT///

RUSSIA'S SECURITY SERVICES HAVE ONE MONTH TO GATHER MORE MATERIAL
FOR THEIR CASE AGAINST MR. NIKITIN.  BUT MR. NIKITIN'S LAWYERS 
SAY THE DEADLINE CAN BE EXTENDED INDEFINITELY. UNTIL A FINAL 
VERDICT IS REACHED, MR. NIKITIN MUST REMAIN IN ST. PETERSBURG 
UNLESS THE SECURITY SERVICES GRANT HIM PERMISSION TO LEAVE. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/EC/PCF/JO



04-Feb-99 10:48 AM EST (1548 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.