ALEXANDER NIKITIN IS FREE. NOW IT IS NECESSARY NOT ONLY TO FIGHT FOR FINAL JUSTICE FOR HIM, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE HIS STRUGGLE AGAINST NUCLEAR DANGER - NOT ONLY CAUSED BY MILITARY INSTALLATIONS BUT ALSO BY "PEACEFUL" NUCLEAR PLANT STATIONS.

DECLARATION OF OLIVIER DUPUIS, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE TRANSNATIONAL RADICAL PARTY AND MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Brussels - Moscow, December 16, 1996. Alexander Nikitin, activist of the ecological organization Bellona Foundation, accused by Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) of "espionage" for preparing a report on nuclear wast produced by the Russian North Fleet, has been released after spending 10 months in a St. Petersburg investigation prison.

The liberation of Alexander Nikitin is also the result of a widespread international campaign for his freedom. An important part of this campaign was a resolution passed by the European Parliament on February 15, 1996 at the initiative of Radical, Green and Liberal members of the European Parliament, as well as other actions undertaken by Radicals for Nikitin's liberation.

On this matter, Olivier Dupuis has declared: "Now that Alexander Nikitin is free, it is time not only to continue the fight for justice (since the criminal charges against him have not yet been dropped), but also to continue Nikitin's struggle against nuclear danger - and focusing not only on the danger produced by military installations, but also by so called "peaceful" nuclear plant stations."

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