DRUG CHARGE BECOMES A DIPLOMATIC BATTLE

MOSCOW -- A Russian court sentenced an American student Friday to 37
months in prison on drug charges in a case that became entangled in
the high-profile diplomatic clash between Washington and Moscow after
the Robert P. Hanssen spy scandal.

John Edward Tobin, 24, a Fulbright scholar studying political science,
stood in a courtroom cage, as is customary for defendants in Russian
criminal trials, while a judge convicted him of possession and
distribution of marijuana. The judge handed down the verdict even
though police acknowledged making up evidence, and the prosecutor said
she was ashamed to be handling the case.

The ruling presents a fresh challenge to U.S. officials who have
labored to ease tensions in the month since President Bush authorized
the expulsion of 50 Russian diplomats in retaliation for Hanssen's
alleged espionage and Moscow countered by ordering 50 U.S. diplomats
to leave the country.

The U.S. Embassy, which sent a representative to the open trial in
Voronezh, about 300 miles south of Moscow, made no comment Friday. But
if it cannot persuade officials here to send Tobin back to the United
States rather than a Russian prison, the impasse could hinder attempts
to rebuild relations at a time when both sides are discussing a
possible get-acquainted summit meeting between Bush and Russian
President Vladimir Putin.

While Tobin's arrest in January came weeks before Hanssen's, Russian
security services made a point of heavily publicizing it only after
the FBI agent was accused of espionage, and pointedly asserted that
Tobin was a spy in training. Tobin studied at a U.S. military school
and at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. He is a member of
an Army Reserve military-intelligence battalion.

Tobin was never charged with espionage but the Federal Security
Service (FSB) again pointed the finger at him Friday, suggesting he
suspiciously visited a power plant and recorded his talks with
politicians.

``There is information that he participated in interrogation of our
compatriots who were arriving in the United States through various
channels,'' FSB official Pavel Bolshunov told reporters in Voronezh.
``We are trying to establish who these people are since they are sure
to get into the visibility field of the American special services.''

Tobin denied the charges, pointing the finger at a roommate who left
the country before the arrest. ``I don't have anything to do with
drugs,'' he said Friday from his cage before the ruling, according to
news reports. ``I ask you to decide my case fairly. I never offered or
sold anyone drugs.'' His attorney promised to appeal.