Three Russian Scientists Charged with Treason

Three Russian scientists have been charged with state treason. Russian publications report that one of them allegedly sold data to China.

The three scientists, working at the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM) on the development of hypersonic flying vehicles, have been arrested sequentially by security forces. They now face life imprisonment for treason.

According to The Moscow Times, citing an open letter from ITAM staff, the detained officials include Valery Zveginstev, a Doctor of Technical Sciences and chief researcher at the institute, who founded the high-speed aerogasdynamic laboratory. Specifically, he has been under house arrest since April 7 of this year.

Moreover, ITAM director Alexander Shiplyuk was transferred to the Lefortovo investigative isolation facility a few days after the arrest of chief researcher Anatoly Maslov last August. They are also suspected of treason.

Media reports suggest that Maslov is suspected of transferring data related to hypersonic technologies to China.