[SOURCE:DETECTIVE RATHAUSKY'S INVESTIGATION] In Russia, some time around the beginning of 1994, a Russian named Eduard Baranov, living in the nuclear town of Obninsk, gets 3 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU) and holds onto it until May. He won't say where he got it. Several months later, Baranov learns that his neighbor, Alexander Scherbinin, is suffering under mounting debts from a business deal gone bad. In March, Baranov convinces his neighbor to work for him as a nuclear courier in order to pay off his debts. Baranov instructs Scherbinin to go to Minsk and meet a Belorussian named Malish. When Scherbinin arrives in Minsk, Malish already has a sample of uranium. In early April, Dr. Vagner, a physicist from Prague, and a second Czech man arrive in Minsk to negotiate over the uranium. They ask for a sample for testing. Vagner takes the sample back to Prague. Scherbinin stays in Minsk with Malish and the second Czech man. Maps  ·  Timeline  ·  Interviews  ·  FAQS  ·  Links Readings  ·  Reactions  ·  Tapes and Transcripts Explore FRONTLINE web site copyright 1995-2008 WGBH educational foundation