By Thomas Nilsen (Bellona Web)
1998-10-21

"TODAY I WILL TELL THE COURT THE TRUTH"

St. Petersburg -Today the Court is going to hear the truth, said an optimistic Aleksandr Nikitin when he walked in to the courtroom for the second day of the trial in the City Court of St. Petersburg. Beginning at 11:00 a.m. Moscow time, Aleksandr Nikitin will give his testimony to the Court.

“During this three-year-long process, I have told the FSB investigators the facts, but they have only included their story in the charges. This is the first time since the case started I am in a position to tell my version of the story without being interrupted by FSB investigators,” said Nikitin. His testimony will take the whole day, and is expected to continue tomorrow morning.

Today’s session is closed for media and international observers, but the three Duma members who yesterday were allowed to follow the closed part of the Court are also present today. The FSB argues that Nikitin broke the law by violating secret, unpublished and retroactive decrees. At the end of the first day, Nikitin and his lawyers received these decrees for the first time. No other ordinary Russian citizen has ever seen these decrees, issued by the Ministry of Defense in September 1996.

Nikitin told Bellona Web before he entered the court room that he is very well prepared for today. He also stated that he is glad for all the support from all over the world during his investigation, particularly the massive support the last days before the trial started. Outside the City Court Nikitin-supporters have unfolded large banners proclaiming, “The Trial Against Nikitin is Russia's Shame.”

*More updates on the Nikitin trial

*More on Russia

*Bellona Website Nikitin Updates

[HOME] [ACT] [CONNECT] [JOIN] [ABOUT] [SEARCH]