A jailed Russian military journalist convicted of treason, Grigory Pasko, has won a second key court ruling in two days, when a wing of Russia's Supreme Court overturned a Soviet-era decree on state secrets.

The military branch of Russia's Supreme Court Wednesday overruled a Soviet-era order that bans military officers with access to secrets from having any contact with foreigners. Mr. Pasko was sentenced by a military court in Vladivostock in December to four years in prison for attending a meeting of Russian naval commanders and taking notes while there. The court said his intent was to pass the notes to Japanese media.

As part of his case, Mr. Pasko has challenged the constitutionality of decrees used to convict him and in the past two days, the court's military wing has sided with him twice.

Pasko's lawyers say the rulings should pave the way for the Supreme Court to free their client. It remains unclear, however, what effect if any the rulings will actually have on Mr. Pasko's case.

Human rights activists have praised both decisions as a step in the right direction, but say it remains to be seen whether they will win the jailed journalist his freedom.

Mr. Pasko insists the charges against him are in retaliation for his reporting about the Russian navy's dumping of nuclear waste into the Sea of Japan.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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