Weapons material trader jailed

Friday, 26 January 2007 Announcements this week have revealed that a secret sting operation over one year ago led to the capture of a Russian man in the possession of high-enriched uranium.

The arrest was made in 2005 after Oleg Khinsagov was contacted by Georgian intelligence agents pretending to be from a terrorist group. The agents had offered Khinsagov $1 million in exchange for a sample of the nuclear material he had claimed was suitable for bomb-making. He claimed to have two to three kilograms more material at his home in Vladikavkaz.

Khinsagov, whose usual occupation was trading sausages and fish, crossed from Russia to Georgia by car, carrying 100g of high-enriched uranium in two bags in the pockets of his leather jacket.

After Khinsagov's arrest, three others were made. Khinsagov was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison after an unpublicised trial in the Georgian capital of Tblisi. His accomplices received three-year sentences.

Many observers noted that the release of this information - over a year after the event - could have been prompted by disputes between Georgia and Russia. Both Russian and Georgian authorities claim they cannot trace the source of the material and complain the other is not cooperating.

The New York Times reported that the FBI opinion was that it was enriched to 90% U-235.

Further information

WNA's Safeguards to Prevent Nuclear Proliferation information paper