Grigory Pasko
Encyclopedia
Grigory Mikhailovich Pasko (born 1962) is a Russia
n journalist and publisher of an environmental magazine.
, currently Ukraine
, to a teacher's family. He graduated from the journalism department of Lvov University
in 1983 and worked as an investigative journalist and editor for “Boyevaya Vakhta” (Battle Watch), the in-house newspaper of the Russian Pacific Fleet. He worked together with Japanese journalists from the NHK
TV network and the newspaper Asahi Shimbun
that specializes in environmental issues. He had disclosed the dumping of nuclear waste by the Russian Navy’s in the Sea of Japan
in 1993.
agents in Vladivostok
. He was accused of espionage for publications on the environmental problems in the Japanese sea but found not guilty due to lack of evidence. He was found guilty of “abuse of his official position” but released immediately under a general amnesty. He was recognized as a prisoner of conscience
by Amnesty International
.
After several re-trials, the Court of the Pacific Fleet acquitted Pasko on all counts except espionage, and convicted him to four years of imprisonment for treason on December 25, 2001. He was released from detention in 2003 and was only allowed to travel abroad 18 months after his release.
rejected the complaints raised by Pasko against Russia under Article 10 ECHR (freedom of information) by 6 votes to 1:
The court also observed that "as a serving military officer, the applicant had been bound by an obligation of discretion in relation to anything concerning the performance of his duties".
Finally, the European court found that "The domestic courts’ decisions appeared reasoned and well-founded. There had been nothing in the materials of the case to support the applicant’s allegations that his conviction had been overly broad or politically motivated or that he had been sanctioned for any of his publications."
His appeal was rejected in May 2010.
Center in Vladivostok
. He
received human rights award from Reporters without borders
in 2002.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n journalist and publisher of an environmental magazine.
Life
Pasko was born in the village Kreshchenovka of the Kherson OblastKherson Oblast
Kherson Oblast is an oblast in southern Ukraine, just north of Crimea. Its administrative center is Kherson. The area of the region is 29000 km², its population is 1.12 million.Important cities in the oblast include:...
, currently Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, to a teacher's family. He graduated from the journalism department of Lvov University
Lviv University
The Lviv University or officially the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv is the oldest continuously operating university in Ukraine...
in 1983 and worked as an investigative journalist and editor for “Boyevaya Vakhta” (Battle Watch), the in-house newspaper of the Russian Pacific Fleet. He worked together with Japanese journalists from the NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
TV network and the newspaper Asahi Shimbun
Asahi Shimbun
The is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...
that specializes in environmental issues. He had disclosed the dumping of nuclear waste by the Russian Navy’s in the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
in 1993.
Conviction
In November 1997 Pasko was arrested by FSBFSB (Russia)
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is the main domestic security agency of the Russian Federation and the main successor agency of the Soviet Committee of State Security . Its main responsibilities are counter-intelligence, internal and border security, counter-terrorism, and...
agents in Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
. He was accused of espionage for publications on the environmental problems in the Japanese sea but found not guilty due to lack of evidence. He was found guilty of “abuse of his official position” but released immediately under a general amnesty. He was recognized as a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
by Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
.
After several re-trials, the Court of the Pacific Fleet acquitted Pasko on all counts except espionage, and convicted him to four years of imprisonment for treason on December 25, 2001. He was released from detention in 2003 and was only allowed to travel abroad 18 months after his release.
Pasko v. Russia
In October 2009 the European Court of Human RightsEuropean Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
rejected the complaints raised by Pasko against Russia under Article 10 ECHR (freedom of information) by 6 votes to 1:
The court also observed that "as a serving military officer, the applicant had been bound by an obligation of discretion in relation to anything concerning the performance of his duties".
Finally, the European court found that "The domestic courts’ decisions appeared reasoned and well-founded. There had been nothing in the materials of the case to support the applicant’s allegations that his conviction had been overly broad or politically motivated or that he had been sanctioned for any of his publications."
His appeal was rejected in May 2010.
Further work
Pasko is a member of the Russian PENInternational PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
Center in Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
. He
received human rights award from Reporters without borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
in 2002.