B3-0185 and 0213/94

Resolution on the arrest and trial of Mr Vil Mirzayanov in Russia

The European Parliament,

A.shocked by the arrest, trial in secret and imprisonment of Mr Vil Mirzayanov for writing an article published in Moskovkiye Novosti in September 1992 in which he stated that the Soviet and Russian chemical weapons industry continued tests after Presidents Gorbachev and Yeltsin had assured the world that they would respect the international convention banning chemical weapons,

B.whereas Russia undertook to destroy all the chemical weapons it holds while, according to the article in question, developing a new chemical weapon, considerably more toxic than those hitherto known,

C.recalling its support for the establishment of the rule of law in Russia,

1.Demands the immediate release of Mr Mirzayanov;

2.Insists that, if the prosecution is to be continued against him, he should be given a fair and public trial;

3.Deplores the existence of research and development activities devoted to new chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction;

4.Calls on the Russian Government to allow international inspection of its weapon production and testing sites in accordance with Article IX.8 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction;

5.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Government of Russia and the Duma.