§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the case of Platon Obukhov, arrested in Russia in 1996 on charges of spying for Britain; what recent representations he has made for his release; and if he will make a statement. [74920]
§ Mike O'BrienThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office has followed the case of Mr. Obukhov from a humanitarian point of view. Following his re-trial, on 17 May 2002 the Moscow City Court reaffirmed his conviction, but ruled that he could not be held criminally responsible for his actions, and that he should be sent to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.