BORODIN'S LAWYER: DEFENDANT COULD BE RELEASED ON HEALTH GROUNDS








MOSCOW, March 14, 2001 /Natalya Byrkina, RIA Novosti Correspondent/ -- Pavel Borodin's attorney Genrikh Padva told reporters in Moscow that poor condition of his defendant's health could become the ground for releasing the Secretary of State with the Union State of Russia and Belarus from detention.


	The lawyer finds the defense could cite Borodin's hospitalization as "an additional warrant" for the release. The issue will be looked into at the next court hearing, due next Friday.


	According to Genrikh Padva, the doctors are not yet certain about Borodin's condition. He noted that some medical tests had confirmed the evidence of a heart attack, but the medical examination is not complete.


	Genrikh Padva disclosed that he had phoned New York the previous night and added that, according to the latest data, Borodin's condition is "serious".