U.S. FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR WHO WAS JAILED ON DRUG CHARGE IN RUSSIA MAY WIN
AMNESTY

An American Fulbright scholar who was convicted in Russia of
possessing and distributing marijuana could be granted amnesty next
week to return home, following a decision by a Russian court on
Thursday to reduce his prison sentence to one year from three years.

U.S. Rep. James H. Maloney confirmed that a regional court in
Voronezh, Russia, about 300 miles southwest of Moscow, had reviewed
charges brought against John (Jack) E. Tobin in January, after he was
arrested for carrying a matchbox that contained marijuana.

The court dismissed one of two remaining drug-related charges against
Mr. Tobin, but upheld a conviction for drug possession, which carries
a one-year sentence. Mr. Tobin, who had been conducting postgraduate
research at Voronezh State University, has spent four months in a
Voronezh prison.

Mr. Maloney, a Democrat of Connecticut, where Mr. Tobin is from, met
with the Russian ambassador to the United States on Thursday. The
congressman said that Mr. Tobin may now qualify for amnesty. To honor
its 10th anniversary, on June 12, the Russian Federation is preparing
an amnesty program that could be announced sometime next week.

"The tremendous significance of the action by the court is not merely
that it reduces Jack's sentence by more than two-thirds, but it makes
it much more likely that the amnesty program would reach Jack Tobin,"
said Mr. Maloney. Amnesty in Russia is typically given to first-time
offenders or nonviolent criminals who are serving relatively short
prison terms, he added.

Mr. Tobin's father, John Tobin Sr., said the court's decision is an
indication that his son may receive amnesty.

"His attorney seems to think it's a good possibility," the senior Mr.
Tobin said. "I hope it can work. Certainly the reduction of the
sentence today is a move in that direction." Although local
authorities had initially brought four drug-related charges against
the Fulbright scholar, two were dropped for lack of evidence and witnesses.

Mr. Tobin could also request a pardon, but Mr. Maloney said that was
unlikely. "Jack Tobin all this time has said he is innocent of the
charges, and has not wanted to request a pardon," he said.

Mr. Tobin's lawyer has contended that the drugs were planted on his
client.

In the meantime, Mr. Maloney said he was drafting a letter to
President Bush, who is scheduled to meet with the Russian president,
Vladimir Putin, on June 16. The letter, signed by 45 members of
Congress, asks Mr. Bush to raise the Tobin case at the meeting, if it
has not been resolved by then.

The case attracted worldwide interest when a local branch of the
Russian security service accused Mr. Tobin, 24, of being an apprentice
spy who was carrying out on-site training. No espionage charges were
filed against him, however.