DATE=2/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245242
TITLE=RUSSIA TREASON (S&L)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=VLADIVOSTOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  THE TRIAL OF A RUSSIAN NAVY CAPTAIN ACCUSED OF ESPIONAGE 
AND REVEALING STATE SECRETS RESUMED MONDAY IN (RUSSIA'S FAR 
EASTERN CITY) VLADIVOSTOK, ONLY TO BE POSTPONED AGAIN -- THIS 
TIME UNTIL FEBRUARY 16TH.  V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT EVE CONANT IS IN
VLADIVOSTOK AND WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE CAPTAIN.

TEXT:  SHACKLED WITH HANDCUFFS, CAPTAIN GRIGORY PASKO WAS LED BY 
FIVE POLICEMEN UP THE CRUMBLING AND POORLY-LIT STAIRS OF A 
VLADIVOSTOK MILITARY COURT. 

THE 36-YEAR-OLD NAVY CAPTAIN AND MILITARY JOURNALIST IS CHARGED 
WITH HIGH TREASON AND ESPIONAGE FOR REVEALING THE DUMPING OF 
RUSSIAN MILITARY RADIOACTIVE WASTE AT SEA. 

HE IS BEING TRIED BY A MILITARY JUDGE AND TWO OFFICERS IN A 
CLOSED HEARING MONDAY. 

HE HAS BEEN DENIED ALL ACCESS TO THE MEDIA, BUT V-O-A WAS THERE 
TO CATCH HIS COMMENTS GOING INTO THE COURT.

///ACT PASKO IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER///

CAPTAIN PASKO SHOUTS---IT'S A GULAG (SOVIET CAMPS FOR POLITICAL 
PRISONERS) TRIAL. RECORD THAT AND TELL EVERYONE.

// OPT // CAPTAIN PASKO IS REFERRING TO THE REPRESSIVE ERA OF 
SOVIET TRIALS WHICH SENT MILLIONS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS TO 
LANGUISH IN COMMUNIST WORK CAMPS.   //END OPT//

THE NAVY CAPTAIN AND FREELANCE JOURNALIST HAS ALREADY SPENT 14 
MONTHS IN WHAT HIS ATTORNEYS CALL A TUBERCULOSIS-INFESTED PRISON,
BUT HAS YET TO BE FOUND GUILTY OF ANY CHARGE. 

THE PRISONER RIGHTS WATCHDOG ORGANIZATION AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 
SAYS CAPTAIN PASKO IS A "PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE."

DEFENSE LAWYER OLEG KOTLEROV TELLS V-O-A THE FEDERAL SECURITY 
SERVICES -- THE SUCCESSOR TO THE K-G-B INTELLIGENCE SERVICE -- 
WHO ARRESTED HIM ARE VIOLATING RUSSIAN LAW. 

///OLEG KOTLEROV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER///

MR. KOTLEROV SAYS -- THEY ARE USING ILLEGAL INTERROGATION METHODS
AND SLEEP DEPRAVATION TO INVESTIGATE HIM.  

 (SIGNED)

NEB / WD / WD

 

08-Feb-99 3:54 AM EST (0854 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.