HUMAN RIGHTS INFORMATION AGENCY "EXPRESS-CHRONICLE"

ENGLISH WEEKLY NEWS DIGEST

7 June 1997

MOSCOW (E-C) On 30 Aleksandr Podrabinek, editor of 'Express-Chronicle,' was questioned as a witness in case #608/97 at the Moscow offices of the Federal Security Service (FSB). The case involves the explosion of a bomb in autumn last year at Moscow's Ostankino military commissariat, and the planting of an explosive device at the Cheremushkinsky enlistment office in the spring of this year. In both cases, responsibility for the terrorist acts was assumed by a previously unknown organisation, 'New Revolutionary Alternative.' On 6 December last year, 'Express-Chronicle' published a declaration by this organisation titled 'Declaration Number 1,' and a commentary by Podrabinekk under the heading 'What a revolution begins with.'

A criminal case has been initiated under article 205-1 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code (terrorism). The investigative group is headed by Sergei Ivanov. FSB major Yuri Amelin, who conducted the interrogation, was interested in the work of the newspaper, its sources of information, and its contacts with pacifist groups. Podrabinek refused to speak about the sources of the newspaper's information, or in any way to characterise the activity of the 'Anti-militarist Radical Association' and 'Anti-fascist Youth Action,' about which Amelin inquired. Podrabinek also refused to provide the investigative group with the original copy of the letter received from the 'New Revolutionary Alternative.' The head of the investigative group threatened to conduct a search of the editorial office of 'Express-Chronicle' and handed Podrabinek an official demand from the FSB requesting the delivery to the investigation of 'materials, that were the basis for the article in the newspaper "Express-Chronicle" about the explosion

in the Ostankino Military Commissariat of Moscow.'

After the conclusion of the interrogation, Podrabinek refused to fulfil the demand of the investigator to sign a statement not to reveal materials of the preliminary investigation.

Earlier that week 'Express-Chronicle' photojournalist Ruben Arutyunyan, who took several photographs of the Ostankino enlistment office after the explosion, was also interrogated on the case.