B4-1355, 1359, 1372 and 1377/95

Resolution on the harassment of the Bellona Foundation by Russian security authorities

The European Parliament,

A. concerned at reports of the harassment of the Norwegian environmental NGO, the Bellona Foundation, by the Russian Federal Security Bureau (FSB) and the seizure of documents belonging to the Foundation,

B. aware that the Bellona Foundation has been carrying out research into and the collection of information about, nuclear pollution in the Kola Peninsula which, during the Soviet era, was converted into a base for large numbers of nuclear weapons and nuclear powered submarines,

C. having regard to the extent of the problems relating to storage and handling of nuclear waste in civilian nuclear installations in the Kola Peninsula in northern Russia, which has great consequences for the environment; noting that since 1989 the Bellona Foundation has been actively collating information on the potential effects of nuclear disaster in the area with the full cooperation of the local Russian authorities and local NGOs,

D. whereas the FSB (former KGB) carried out nine actions against Bellona personnel and properties between 5 and 16 October 1995, including a raid on the Bellona office in Murmansk in which documentation and office equipment were seized;

E. whereas several Russian environmentalists in Murmansk, St. Petersburg and Severodvinsk have been interrogated about their work by the FSB, without explanation by the prosecutor in St. Petersburg who ordered the FSB action; whereas some of the environmentalists have had their passports confiscated;

F. whereas some of the information seized by the FSB relates to the Commission Project R6. 01/94 financed by DG XI to assess the possible consequences of nuclear waste spillage from the nuclear ice-breaker 'Lepse¨ which is moored in Murmansk harbour;

G. whereas measures against nuclear pollution in north-west Russia have formed part of the TACIS programme in Russia for this year;

The European Parliament,

1. Calls on the Russian Government to ensure that the FSB stops harassing those working for or cooperating with the Bellona Foundation, whether they are Russian or of other nationality;

2. Calls on the Russian authorities to provide a full and detailed explanation of all charges against the Bellona Foundation and to investigate the reasons for the seizure of documents, computers and valuable research material from the Bellona office in Murmansk;

3. Calls on the Commission to monitor closely the investigations carried out by the Russian authorities and to report to Parliament on progress made;

4. Insists on the importance of openness about environmental questions as a precondition for international cooperation on such questions; therefore calls on the European Union and the Russian Federation to exchange information so as to avoid misunderstanding about any nuclear contamination in the region;

5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to urge the Russian Government to ensure respect for the democratic rights of NGOs and its citizens to carry out scientific research work;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Government of Russia, the Government of Norway and the Bellona Foundation.