Jailed Chemist Freed Pending Trial

MOSCOW — A chemist who accused Russia’s military leaders of developing their own chemical weapons program has been released from prison pending trial on charges of betraying state secrets.

Vil S. Mirzayanov was in jail because he was the acknowledged source for sensational printed revelations that as recently as this spring the Russians were hard at work developing a new type of binary chemical weapon.

“I wanted to warn the world that Russia’s top brass, who are now negotiating the destruction of chemical arsenals, cannot be trusted,” Mirzayanov said hours after a Moscow district court ordered his release.

Mirzayanov could face up to five years in prison if he is convicted. But he was optimistic about the trial, the date of which has not been set. “I know I will win. I have done nothing wrong,” he said.