EDITOR'S NOTE: On Nov. 20, 1997, navy journalist Captain Grigory Pasko was arrested after returning from a trip to Japan and charged with high treason. Pasko had provided video footage and documents to Nippon Hoso Kyoka (known as NHK, or the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation) and other Japanese media. Since the arrest, some journalists have criticized NHK for failing to defend Pasko, criticize his arrest, provide lawyers, or even cover the opening of his trial. This week, Vladivostok News faxed NHK a list of questions regarding the arrest of Captain Pasko. The paper noted that Norwegian environmentalists have defended Alexander Nikitin, a St. Petersburg navy captain who faces similar charges, and asked why NHK hasn't done more. Here is NHK's response. Statement to the Vladivostok News First, we would like to explain the relationship between NHK Vladivostok office and Captain Grigory Pasko. The office and the captain were working for different media. One of our correspondents and Captain Pasko had known each other and had worked together. Captain Pasko, however, had also been working for another media at the time. So Captain Pasko had never worked only for NHK, excluding others. The questions you have asked are on the basis that Captain Pasko was charged for an action during his work for NHK. So far, however, this point has not been clarified, and we do not know and have not been informed by the Russian authorities or by Captain Pasko himself of the reason for his arrest. So we cannot say that this is the same case as Alexander Nikitin. Captain Pasko is filing a civil suit against NHK claiming that NHK used TV materials that he had taken on his own without consulting him. But we used his materials after confirming his permission, for our news program "The Russian Army's Dumping of Nuclear Waste into the Sea," broadcast in 1993. Captain Pasko's claim and NHK's differ on this point. If Captain Pasko is willing to clarify these points above for his defense, NHK is ready to respond sincerely. NHK Public Relations Bureau Tokyo Dec. 1, 1998 © copyright 1998 the Vladivostok News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in any form. [Back to News page]  [Back to Front page]  [Write to us]