TRIALS IN BELGRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27254, 3 December 1949, Page 7

TRIALS IN BELGRADE

Plotting Against Tito

RUSSIAN-DIRECTED SPY RING N ZP A—Copyright BELGRADE, Dec. 1. The Russian Embassy had directed a spy ring in Yugoslavia, ; the public prosecutor alleged at the opening of the espionage trial of 11 Russians at Sarajevo to-day. He named five officials of the embassy in Belgrade as contact men. The ringleader was said to be Alexei Krisko, an Orthodox priest, who appeared in court to-day in black clerical robes. He was accused of first working for the Fascists against Russia and then for Russia against Marshal Tito. It was alleged that Krisko toured the country preaching against Marshal Tito, and when the Cominform published its anti-Tito resolution he communicated with Soviet Embassy officials in Belgrade and agreed to work for them. The trial will probably last for four or five days. The charges carry penalties varying from two to twenty years hard labour. , . The public prosecutor announced at the opening of the trials that one of the accused had committed suicide m his cell yesterday, after confessing that he had worked for the Russian intelligence and the Soviet Embassy in Belgrade. The prosecutor added that the dead man left a letter thanking the Yugoslav State security administration for its understanding and kind treatment.