The TsNIIMash-Export espionage trial concerned five Russian scientists accused of selling Russian military technology to Chinese spies. The scientists, Igor Reshetin, Sergei Vizir, Mikhail Ivanov, Sergei Tverdokhlebov, and Alexander Rozhkin, all worked for the Russian rocket and space researcher TsNIIMash-Export.[1] Human rights groups have criticized Russia's handling of the case, and some have called the scientists political prisoners.[2][3]

Charges

The scientists were arrested on October 25, 2005, on charges of embezzlement and the sale of state secrets to the All-China Precision Engineering Import-Export Co. in 1996.[4][5] All three were executives of the TsNIIMash-Export company, a state-owned rocket manufacturer and research company operating in Korolyov.[4] The state claimed that the group had sold 13 laboratory reports[6] related to space rocketry, to the Chinese company, and that the technology served a dual use which could undermine the secrecy of Russian weapon systems and, potentially, to build nuclear missiles.[4] Alongside these charges were claims that the group had embezzled nearly a million US dollars through non-existent shell companies.[4]

The defendants argued that the state had no expert able to testify to the dual use of the technology, nor did it provide evidence that the sale of the information had taken place.[5] The technology had been sent to review by appropriate ministries, which found no concern, and approved the transfer in 2002, a year before the FSB opened its investigation.[7] All major science institutions, and the Russian Space Agency, submitted opinions that the technology in question was not secret; 62 publicly available academic monographs containing the information alleged to be secret were submitted as evidence during the trial.[7] Finally, the defense stated that the shadow corporations were legitimate subcontractors required to complete the manufacturing work called for in the contract.[7]

Defendants and sentencing

Igor Reshetin, director of TsNIIMash-Export, had been sentenced to 11 and a half years. He was released on parole in 2012. He published several academic papers while in prison.[7]

Sergei Vizir was chief economist of TsNIIMash-Export at the time of his arrest.[5] He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.[7]

Alexander Rozhkin was sentenced to five years.

Sergei Tverdokhlebov was executive director of the firm.[7][8] He was released after signing a confession and died of a heart attack soon after his release at age 47.[7]

Mikhail Ivanov, cofounder and deputy chair of TsNIIMash-Export,[5] was charged separately after affirming that the information sold in the contract was not top secret. He was sentenced to five years.[7]

Response

Twenty academics, in an open letter to Prime Minister Medvedev in 2009, argued for dismissal of the charges against Reshetin, calling his arrest part of a "witch hunt" against Russian academics.[9] Yury Ryzhov, chair of the Public Committee for the Defence of Scientists, also lobbied on behalf of Reshten's release.[10]

The APS Committee on International Freedom of Scientists lobbied on behalf of Reshten, saying that "the charges against him appeared related to what would be considered routine scientific cooperation between research institutes in two countries".[11]

2018 espionage arrests

On 21 July 2018, FSB raided offices of TsNIIMash and Roscosmos Research and Analytical Center and arrested ten employees suspected of passing classified hypersonic Russian missile technologies to Western intelligence agencies. Arrested are accused of high treason.[12][13]

A senior researcher Sergey Meshcheryakov suspected of treason was put under house arrest in July 2019.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Scientist Convicted of Selling Secrets". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "The List of Persons Recognized as Political Prisoners by Russia's Memorial Human Rights Center". Institute of Modern Russia. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "2009 Human Rights Report: Russia". State Department of the United States. United States: State Department. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Power, Christopher Burgess, Richard (2008). Secrets stolen, fortunes lost preventing intellectual property theft and economic espionage in the 21st century. Rockland, Mass.: Syngress. p. 38. ISBN 9780080558806.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Pleading Begins in Scientists' Trial". Kommersant. Kommersant. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  6. ↑ Schrek, Carl (31 October 2005). "FSB Arrests 3 Space Researchers". Moscow Times. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Racheva, Elena (10 December 2007). "Space as evidence". Novayagazeta. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  8. ↑ West, I. C. Smith, Nigel (2012). Historical dictionary of Chinese intelligence. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810871748.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ Krainova, Natalya (13 August 2009). "Scientists Accuse FSB of 'Witch Hunt' in Letter". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  10. ↑ ""Secrets of the World" with Vladimir Putin: Letter from Yury Ryzhov to President Putin on Imprisoned Scientists - HRO.org in English". Hro.rightsinrussia.info. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Igor Reshetin released from Russian prison". Aps.org.
  12. ↑ "Russia fears leak of hypersonic missile secrets to West". BBC News. July 20, 2018.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ "Moscow court puts rocket center staffer under house arrest on high treason charge - Emergencies". Tass.com. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
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