RUSSIAN DEFECTOR

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30364, 13 February 1964, Page 11

RUSSIAN DEFECTOR

Nuclear Information

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

GENEVA, February 12. Reports from authoritative sources in Geneva say . that Yuri Nossenko. the Russian defector, is believed to possess information concerning Russian nuclear weapons production. Nossenko. aged 36, also has information on Russian strategy at the disarmament conference in Geneva and possibly on Russian defence plans, authoritative conference sources said. Nossenko’s defection was planned for a long tune, according to reports. As an officer of the Russian State security organisa-

tion and a member of the Russian delegation to the disarmament conference the reports said. Nossenko brought out with him vital information as for use in a bargaining for political asylum in the United States. The most important information he is believed to possess relates to the production in Russia of nuclear arms, the sources said. • Nossenko came to Geneva on January 19. two days before the Disarmament Conference resumed, and travelled from Moscow with the Russian disarmament negotiator (Mr Semyon Tsarapkin) and other Russian officials. Contact Made

The Russian delegation discovered he was missing from his hotel on February 4 and five days later asked the Geneva police to search for him. • The United States State Department announced that Nossenko had asked for political asylum in the United States and that contact with him had been made before his disappearance on February 4. There were no indications as to whether this contact was made in Geneva or elsewhere.

It is generally felt in Geneva that Nossenko is already in the United States, having travelled there by way of Paris last week. He kept very much in the background during his three weeks in Geneva.