Russia spy trial witness 'withdraws evidence'

MOSCOW, Russia -- A key witness in the trial of Edmond Pope, an American accused of spying in Russia, has retracted his statement about providing classified information, Pope's lawyer said on Wednesday.

Academic Anatoly Babkin, whose evidence supported charges against Pope, had written to the court saying he made the statement under pressure from investigators, said Pope's lawyer Pavel Astakhov.

Babkin, a professor at Moscow's elite Technical University, was detained with Pope and was reported to have said he handed over state secrets on a new torpedo to the 54-year-old former U.S. naval intelligence officer.

MESSAGE BOARD Changes in Russia

Pope's defence says he was engaged in legitimate business dealings, trying to purchase 10-year-old documents on underwater propulsion technology which had already been sold abroad.

"In his statement, Anatoly Babkin takes back his statement made during the investigation," said Astakhov, showing a copy of a handwritten letter.

"He says he did not read the transcript of his own statement made during the investigation under pressure in a pre-heart attack state."

Babkin suffered a heart attack soon after his arrest and was allowed to stay at home.

But the FSB domestic intelligence service said its case against Pope was not based only on Babkin's testimony, and included documentary and video material.

"We are certain of the proof we have amassed in the Pope case," an FSB spokesman told Interfax news agency.

"We therefore believe that the court should be given the opportunity to examine all the evidence in a calm atmosphere and give a fair and considered decision on the case."

Astakhov said that Babkin stated in his letter that he had never met Pope, never released classified information to him and never received his requests for such information.

The lawyer added that the defence would ask the court to withdraw Babkin's testimony and acquit Pope, or question Babkin at home.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

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