APPEAL

To: The Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Security of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, S.N. Yushenkov

From: Mikhail Ivanovich Trepashkin, attorney of the Inter-territorial Bar Association "Mezhregion" of the Guild of Russian Lawyers, residing at: Moscow, Zatonnaya St., house 17, apt. 15, tel. 114-51-84.

City of Moscow
May 13, 2002

Dear Sergei Nikolayevich!

I am addressing you with questions that are of great importance for ensuring the security of the state and the citizens of Russia.

I worked for a long time as an investigator in the state security agencies of Russia. My total experience in investigative work is over 20 years.

In December 2001, speaking on REN-TV, I, as an investigator, expressed the opinion that:
* The investigation of the criminal case regarding the facts of the apartment bombings in the city of Moscow is being conducted unprofessionally.
* A number of circumstances are being hidden from the population, which raises questions about a lack of interest in solving these crimes.
* I noted the poor organization of operational-investigative work by the leadership of the FSB of the RF, primarily N.P. Patrushev.

In response to this, on January 22, 2002, a search was conducted at my place of residence by employees of the Main Military Prosecutor's Office and the USB [Internal Security Directorate] of the FSB of the RF. Cartridges (18 pcs.) were planted, and a criminal case was initiated immediately on four counts of crime:

• Illegal acquisition and storage of ammunition (Part 1, Art. 222 of the Criminal Code of the RF);
• Illegal acquisition and carrying of gas weapons (Part 4, Art. 222 of the Criminal Code of the RF);
• Disclosure of information constituting a state secret (Part 1, Art. 283 of the Criminal Code of the RF).