Russian Said to Recant Spy Testimony
The lawyer for an American accused of spying in Russia said Wednesday that the professor from whom Edmond D. Pope allegedly obtained technical data on a torpedo system has recanted his testimony. The court refused to immediately accept the claim.
Pope, a businessman and former U.S. Navy officer, was arrested in April and is being tried behind closed doors in Moscow on charges of trying to buy classified plans for a high-speed Russian torpedo system.
He allegedly obtained some of the information from Anatoly Babkin, a professor at Moscow’s Bauman Technical Institute.
Before the trial resumed Wednesday, Pope’s attorney, Pavel Astakhov, distributed what he said was a letter Babkin wrote to the court last week.
“I recant my testimony concerning Edmond Pope, which I gave under pressure, having a grave heart condition preceding a heart attack,” the letter said.
“I signed the protocol of my interrogation without even reading it,” it said. “In fact, I have never met Edmond Pope face to face and have not given him any sensitive information.”
A few hours later, government RTR television showed what it said was a Federal Security Service tape of Pope meeting Babkin.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
