Evgeny Vasilyevich Afanasyev (1952-2014) and Svyatoslav Bobyshev (b.1953) were professors at the Baltic State Technical University. In 2012, after two years of detention, [1] the two were convicted of treason tied to alleged sale of Russian missile information to a Chinese spy. Russian Federation Courts sentenced Afanasyev to 12+1⁄2 years in a prison camp, and Bobyshev to 12. Afanasyev died in prison. Russia's Memorial Human Rights Center identified the scientists as political prisoners, and determined that their detention was a violation of international human rights agreements. [1]
The charge alleged that the pair sold classified information about technology that could detect Russia's Bulava-class submarine-launched missiles. [2] The court alleged that the two had sold the information to a Chinese spy in 2009. [3] [4] The Russian charges were tied to an agreement between the professors' university, Baltic State Technical University in St. Petersburg, and Harbin Engineering University in China. [5] The chairman of Afanasyev's department said the lectures did not include any specifications about the missiles. [5]
Human rights groups argue that the scientists are political prisoners charged with a crime without evidence. [1] Human rights groups also suggest that the detention for two years without trial, and eventual closed trial, were a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. [4]
After two years of detainment at Moscow’s Lefortovo maximum-security prison, [3] the Russian state convicted the pair for "High Treason.". [1]
Russian officials have stated that there is no state process for convicting a person for a political crime. [6] [7] The Moscow Helsinki Group, the oldest human rights organization in Russia, argue that while there are no laws against political crimes, there have been cases of politically motivated charges. [8] Advocates for the pair include the Committee of Concerned Scientists, [3] the Memorial Human Rights Center, [1] and Scholars at Risk. [5]
Evgeny Vasilyevich Afanasyev (1952-2014) and Svyatoslav Bobyshev (b.1953) were professors at the Baltic State Technical University. In 2012, after two years of detention, [1] the two were convicted of treason tied to alleged sale of Russian missile information to a Chinese spy. Russian Federation Courts sentenced Afanasyev to 12+1⁄2 years in a prison camp, and Bobyshev to 12. Afanasyev died in prison. Russia's Memorial Human Rights Center identified the scientists as political prisoners, and determined that their detention was a violation of international human rights agreements. [1]
The charge alleged that the pair sold classified information about technology that could detect Russia's Bulava-class submarine-launched missiles. [2] The court alleged that the two had sold the information to a Chinese spy in 2009. [3] [4] The Russian charges were tied to an agreement between the professors' university, Baltic State Technical University in St. Petersburg, and Harbin Engineering University in China. [5] The chairman of Afanasyev's department said the lectures did not include any specifications about the missiles. [5]
Human rights groups argue that the scientists are political prisoners charged with a crime without evidence. [1] Human rights groups also suggest that the detention for two years without trial, and eventual closed trial, were a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. [4]
After two years of detainment at Moscow’s Lefortovo maximum-security prison, [3] the Russian state convicted the pair for "High Treason.". [1]
Russian officials have stated that there is no state process for convicting a person for a political crime. [6] [7] The Moscow Helsinki Group, the oldest human rights organization in Russia, argue that while there are no laws against political crimes, there have been cases of politically motivated charges. [8] Advocates for the pair include the Committee of Concerned Scientists, [3] the Memorial Human Rights Center, [1] and Scholars at Risk. [5]