Alexander Nikitin

Alexander Konstantinovich Nikitin (Russian: Александр Константинович Никитин; born May 16, 1952 in Achtyrka, Ukrainian SSR ) is a Russian engineer - mechanic and former officer of the Russian Northern Fleet as a submarine captain and inspector for nuclear safety.

He began in 1994 with the Norwegian environmental organization Bellona Foundation International and later co-operate with Western journalists. In February 1996 he was arrested by the Russian FSB and charged with treason and espionage. The immediate occasion was his contribution to an international report from Bellona about the dangers of inadequate nuclear safety at the Russian Northern Fleet. In Russia, the report was immediately banned and the authors, in particular Nikitin, threatened if convicted as charged, even the death penalty.

After ten months in custody Nikitin was dismissed by order of Mikhail Katushev, then Deputy Attorney General of Russia in December 1996 from prison. With the release from custody, the process was not set and not yet canceled the charge. Nikitin was the first time in October 1998 in the matter to court, it dismissed the City Court of St. Petersburg, the evidence presented against him by the prosecution from. Instead Nikitin, however, acquit, the court transferred the case back for further investigation to the FSB. The Court of Appeal upheld this decision in February 1999 and the FSB raised in July 1999, a new indictment.

The second round of negotiations began in November 1999, also from the city court in St. Petersburg and ended on 29 December 1999 with a complete acquittal. In contrast, the prosecution filed an appeal, but it was rejected by the next higher authority. The acquittal became final with effect from 17 April 2000.

However, the prosecution was not willing to simply accept this acquittal. On 30 May 2000, the Russian Prosecutor General demanded by the Presidium of Russia's highest court to take up the case again. The Presidium of the Russian Supreme Court rejected the application for revision as of September 13, 2000. The case so far learned quite fundamental importance, as first rejected by a hitherto almost omnipotent Russian FSB raised in court accusation in the last instance in Russia and the accused was fully acquitted.

Alexander Nikitin is also today still actively committed to environmental issues and human rights issues in Russia. He is now the Director of the Office of Environmental Law of Bellona in St. Petersburg and became engaged there both with environmental problems and issues of nuclear safety, as well as with human rights cases. In 1997, the Goldman Environmental Prize awarded him. However, he was prevented due to the ongoing proceedings against him from attending the ceremony itself. He was awarded the first prize winner with the Whistleblower Award 1999.