Ruling Favors Reporter Convicted of Treason
Russia’s Supreme Court dealt another blow to prosecutors seeking to uphold a treason conviction against military journalist Grigory Pasko, striking down a 1990 order that restricted contacts between members of the military and foreigners.
It was the court’s second ruling in two days in favor of Pasko, 40, who was sentenced late last year to four years in prison for collecting material on secret military exercises to give to Japanese journalists. On Tuesday, the court threw out a 1996 order that classified certain information on the grounds that the Defense Ministry kept the order itself secret.
Pasko’s lawyer said the rulings would strengthen Pasko’s hand when the Supreme Court considers his appeal. A date for that has not been set.
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