-Caveat Lector- from: http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=222434 Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.russiatoday.com/news.php3?id=222434">Russia Today - News - Russia Gripped by "Spy Ma�</A> ----- Russia Gripped by "Spy Mania" MOSCOW, Nov 21, 2000 -- (Reuters) Former Russian navy captain turned Eco-warrior Grigory Pasko said on Monday that Russia was gripped by a "spy mania" driven by the need of its secret services to justify their inflated numbers. Pasko also accused President Vladimir Putin, a one-time KGB spy and former head of the FSB domestic intelligence agency, of putting the rights of the state above those of ordinary citizens. He made the comments at a news conference to promote his book, "Case No 10: Grigory Pasko against the FSB", written during his 18-month detention and trial on treason charges linked to his ecological activities. The ex-naval officer was arrested and charged in November 1997 after handing Japanese journalists evidence that the Russian navy had dumped toxic waste in the Sea of Japan. After a five-month trial in a closed-door military court Pasko was cleared of treason but convicted of the lesser offense of abuse of office and was freed under an amnesty. But he insists the material he handed over was already in the public domain and has appealed his conviction. A military appeals court is due to issue its ruling on Tuesday. "Tomorrow's decision will determine which way the justice system in Russia will develop, whether it will be punitive and repressive, or democratic, defending rights and freedoms," he said. SPY MANIA "Everybody knows that there's a wave or epidemic of spy mania or spy frenzy sweeping over Russia, and if you look at history you can find an explanation," he said. "Suddenly the FSB have started realizing that they have to show society they are earning their keep, that their huge numbers are justified. "Putin for some reason often...speaks of the interests of the state, forgetting that the main interest of the state is people." Also present at the news conference was Alexander Nikitin, a submarine captain who in September won the final round in a five-year legal battle against treason charges linked to his own ecology activities. Nikitin had provided Norwegian environmental group Bellona with details of the radioactive pollution in the Arctic seas. (C)2000 Copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
