The human rights organization considers this court ruling as a sign of increasing pressure on environmental activists in the Russian Federation.

Grigory Pasko was arrested in 1997 for treason and espionage, after exposing the Russian navy's illegal dumping of nuclear waste. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the military court in July 1999 on a lesser charge, but was then released under an amnesty. He had already spent 20 months in pretrial detention, 10 months of which was in solitary confinement. He was considered as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International at that time.

On 21 November 2000, the Military Collegium took its decision after the military prosecutor of the Pacific Fleet appealed against the dismissal of the more serious treason charge. The appeal was accepted on the basis that the details of the case had not been examined carefully enough.

Amnesty International believes that Grigory Pasko has done no more than peacefully exercise his fundamental right to freedom of expression. He should not have been prosecuted as he acted in full compliance with the Russian law.

Amnesty International will continue to monitor the case of Grigory Pasko and calls on the Russian authorities to drop all charges against him.

See also: Russian Federation: Environmental activist Grigory Pasko faces new imprisonment risk, AI Index EUR 46/045/2000, 20 November 2000

Russian Federation: All charges should be dropped against freed prisoner of conscience Grigory Pasko, AI INDEX: EUR 46/22/99,20 July 1999