INTERNATIONAL NOTES
Pasko Free, Nikitin Charged Again

After 20 months in prison, nuclear whistleblower and military journalist Grigory Pasko was set free in July, after being cleared of espionage and treason charges. A Pacific Fleet military court in Vladivostok found Pasko guilty on lesser charges of abuse of his service duty for personal gain and violating the interests of the state. He was sentenced to three years but set free immediately under a recent amnesty law for first-time offenders.

Pasko said he should not have been convicted of any crime. He told the Associated Press, "Here in Russia, if the KGB takes up a case there is never an acquittal," he said. "I came out today but tomorrow someone else will go to jail. First of all, we need a precedent of an acquittal."

An acquittal is the teased hope of Alexander Nikitin. The former Soviet navy officer's case has been repeatedly referred by higher courts back to FSB (Russian security police) investigators for clarification of the charges. On July 2, for the eighth time, Nikitin was again charged with treason for violating secret and retroactive laws. A new trial would not begin before late autumn. Meanwhile, Nikitin has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to hear his case that Russian authorities have violated his rights. Pasko's warning of continuing harassment of environmentalists is supported by the actions against Vladimir Slivyak (see below), and the recently reported search of the laboratory and flat of Vladimir Soifer, a scientist accused of disclosing information about nuclear pollution at sea.

For up-to-date information on Nikitin's case, visit http://www.bellona.no/e/russia/nikitin/ on the internet.