Three Bolsheviks charged

Three supporters of a radical Russian organization were charged Dec. 2 with calling for the violent overthrow of the state and for keeping illegal explosives.

All three are members of the organization Pobeda, or Victory, which authorities say is a cover for the activities of the National Bolsheviks, a Russia-based nationalist group that advocates armed overthrow of the state.

Pobeda spokeswoman Olga Morozova, 39, and two of the organization's members, Artur Petrov, 21, and Raimonds Krumgolts, 20, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Later in the week charges are expected to be pressed also against Pobeda leader Vladimir Linderman, currently living in Russia.

Acting on intelligence reports about plans by local National Bolsheviks to assassinate Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the Latvian Security Police recently detained the three members of the organization and seized large amount of explosives, arms and ammunition.

Linderman claimed the accusations and evidence were fabricated by the Latvian police.

According to the Russian-language newspaper Panorama Latvii, he has sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, requesting a political asylum in Russia.