Amnesty International is calling for the immediate release of the
journalist, Grigory Pasko, a reporter for Boyevaya Vakhta (Battle Watch),
the newspaper of the Russian Pacific Fleet, sentenced to four years
imprisonment in a hard labour camp for intent to pass on information to a
foreign correspondent.
In 1993 Grigory Pasko filmed a Russian navy tanker dumping radioactive waste
in the Sea of Japan. The film, Extra-dangerous Zone, was later shown by the
Japanese TV station Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK), Japan Broadcasting
Corporation, and by a TV station in Primorsky region, in far eastern Russia.
In this film and in further articles he exposed the threats to the
environment caused by the Pacific Fleet. According to Russian laws
information about ecological threats should not be withheld from the public.
Grigory Pasko also reported on corruption inside the fleet and he passed on
public information on both of the above mentioned issues to Japanese
journalists. In November 1997, on his return from Japan, he was arrested and
accused of espionage and treason. After 20 months in pre-trial detention he
was sentenced in July 1999 to three years imprisonment for abuse of his
position but was immediately released under an amnesty.
Both Grigory Pasko and the Military Prosecutor of the Pacific Fleet appealed
against the conviction, Grigory Pasko asking for an acquittal while the
prosecutor considered the sentence too lenient. In November 2000 the Russian
Supreme Court decided to return the case to the Military Court in
Vladivostok for further investigation.
After numerous delays the second trial started in July 2001, and in December
2001 Grigory Pasko was sentenced to four years imprisonment in a labour
camp. His previous imprisonment while awaiting trial was taken into account
and he therefore faces two years and four months in detention. Again both
sides appealed against the verdict. Until a decision about the appeals has
been taken, Grigory Pasko remains in pre-trial detention.
Recommended action:
Please send politely worded letters - in Russian or English or your own
language.
Stating that Grigory Pasko is imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of
his right to freedom of expression, and that he acted in full accordance
with Russian law;
urging for the immediate and unconditional release of Grigory Pasko;
asking for a the court decision to be overturned, as Grigory Pasko has not
committed an offence.
Whom to write to:
President of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Putin
The Kremlin
Moscow
Russian Federation
Fax: +7 095 206 6277, +7 095 206 8510
Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Ustinov
Ul. Bolshaya Dimitrovka, d. 15 a
Moscow K 31
103793
Russian Federation
Fax: + 7 095 292 88 48
Supreme Court of the Russian Federation
Military Collegium
Ul. Povarskaya 15
Moscow
121069
Russian Federation
Fax: +7 095 206 07 66
Please send copies of your letters to the following human rights
> organizations in Russia
Glasnost Defence Foundation Fax: 007 095 201 4947,
e-mail:[log in to unmask]
Index on Censorship: [log in to unmask]
and to the Russian embassy in your country.
Please send letters of support to
Grigory Pasko
SIZO IZ-25/1
Partizanskiy Prospekt 28-b
690106 Vladivostok
Russian Federation
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