Russian Appeals Nuclear Smuggling Conviction

Oleg Khinsagov (ITAR-TASS) February 1, 2007 -- A Georgian court has begun hearing a Russian citizen's appeal against his conviction for attempting to smuggle highly enriched uranium.

On January 25, Georgia announced it had sent Oleg Khinsagov to jail for eight years for trying to sell a small amount of weapons-grade uranium to an agent posing as a rich foreign buyer.


Georgian officials said Khinsagov claimed the material came from the Russian city of Novosibirsk.


Georgia and Russia have accused each other of lack of cooperation in investigating the incident.


(AP)