CCS Calls for Due Process and Investigation Of Criminal Charges of Russian Nuclear Scientist

Photo: Dmitry Azovtsev (via: Wikipedia)

Update 5/28/2015

We understand that Dr. Golubev was arrested on April 22, 2015.

Dr. Vladimir Golubev, a nuclear scientist formerly employed by the Russian Federal Nuclear Center, denies criminal charges of revealing classified materials at an international conference in 2013. Dr. Golubev states that the materials were published in scientific outlets before his presentation. CCS calls to the attention of Russian authorities of the due process requirements of Russian and international law applicable to this case and urges that they should be followed.

Mr. Vladimir Putin
President of the Russian Federation
The Kremlin
23, Ilyinka Street
Moscow, 103132
Russian Federation

May 26, 2015

Dear President Putin:

We are an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world. We write now out of concern for Russian nuclear scientist, Vladimir Golubev.

Dr. Golubev, former employee of the Russian Federal Nuclear Centre, southeast of Moscow, has been accused by Russian Special Services of leaking state secrets. Criminal proceedings were brought against Golubev in the summer of 2014. It was alleged that Golubev revealed classified materials at an international conference that was held in Prague in 2013. According to news reports, Golubev states that the materials in question were published in scientific outlets before his presentation at the conference. A local court in Nizhniy Novgorod has issued an arrest warrant for him, on the basis of suspected high treason. He was taken before a judge and released on his own recognizance. However, investigators filed a motion for detention alleging that Golubev had violated the terms of his release on April 22, 2015. We have no information concerning his present situation.

We are concerned that these serious charges, which may have no basis in fact, contravene international standards of due process, fair trial and detention procedures as guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Russia is a signatory. In 2002, in a speech on Human Rights day you stated, in regard to Human Rights in Russia: Protecting civil rights and freedoms is a highly relevant issue for Russia. You know that next year will see the tenth anniversary of our constitution. It declares the basic human rights and freedoms to be the highest value and it enshrines them as self- implementing standards. I must say that this is of course a great achievement. We hope your belief in Human Rights will initiate further review of Dr. Golubev’s case.

We urge you to investigate Dr. Golubev’s arrest and detention, whether the charges have any basis, and to ensure his well-being pending his earliest release, including regular access to legal counsel, to family and to medical treatment.

Sincerely,

Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer

Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists

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• Russian Nuclear Physicist Accused Of Revealing Classified Material (rferl.org)

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