Center for Civil Society International ([email protected])
Fri, 16 Oct 1998 12:51:04 -0700 (PDT)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 19:15:10 +0200
From: The Bellona Foundation <[email protected]>
Subject: Nikitin trial starts Tuesday in St Petersburg
Center for Civil Society International has received the following
important news item from the Bellona Foundation of Norway about the
Nikitin case.
For the information of CivilSoc subscribers who do not know, Aleksandr
Nikitin was charged with espionage and disclosure of state secrets while
working for the Bellona Foundation. He was arrested by the FSB (successor
agency of the KGB) on February 6, 1996, after writing two chapters for a
Bellona report on the risks of radioactive pollution from Russia's
Northern Fleet. He was held in pre-trial detention until December 14,
1996, and has been officially restricted to the city limits of St.
Petersburg since his release from custody.
***Nikitin Judge has not Received Secret Decrees***
**Nikitin Trial Starts October 20**
Oct. 16 - The judge has still not received the secret decrees which
constitute the basis for the charges against Aleksandr Nikitin. The
judge ordered the Russian security police (FSB) to produce the decrees
in late September and expected the documents by October 13-15.
The Nikitin trial is scheduled to begin October 20, 10:30 Moscow time, at
St. Petersburg's City Court. The judge, Sergei Golets, has said the press
is allowed to attend a part of the court session not related to secrecy
issues.
The trial will be attended by international observers from EU and U.S.
state institutions. Other observers include Western diplomats, human
rights organisation, and members of scientific organisations, who are
concerned about the freedom of speech right under the increasingly
restrictive Russian secrecy regulations. Altogether, some 20
organisations have expressed their intention to send observers to the
trial.
During the trial, the Bellona Foundation will open the NIKITIN TRIAL
OBSERVERS CENTER situated next to the court house, at Naberezhnaya reki
Fontanka 14.
PRESS BRIEFING
On Monday, October 19, at 16:00 Moscow time, Aleksandr Nikitin and
Bellona will hold the last press briefing prior to the start of the
trial.
The briefing will take place at: NIKITIN TRIAL OBSERVERS CENTER
Restaurant Ambassador
Naberezhnaya reki Fontanka 14
Tlf: +7 (812) 272 3791
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Frederic Hauge, +47 900 37 543
Thomas Nilsen, +47 905 73 143
Siri Engeseth, +47 901 14 675
More info: http://www.bellona.no/e/russia/nikitin/
The Bellona Foundation
----------------------------------------------------------------
Fax: +47 22383862 Phone: +47 23234600
Snail mail: BELLONA, Box 2141 Grunerlokka, N-0505 Oslo, Norway
Email: [email protected] WWW: http://www.bellona.no/
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