Aleksey Temirev, a Doctor of Technical Sciences, has been accused of leaking secret information to Vietnam. Temirev, however, denies that the information was secret. CCS has written President Putin requesting that the case be reviewed to assure that it was not the common practice of scientists collaborating on a project and sharing information between two countries that was classified as public.
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
President of the Russian Federation
Ul.Ilyinka, 23
103132 Moscow,
Russian Federation
Fax: +7 495 9102134
Twitter: @KremlinRussia
Dear President:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is 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 to express our concern over the arrest of scientist Aleksey Temirev – a defendant in a case of treason.
Aleksey Temirev was arrested on July 19. He is a Doctor of Technical Sciences, holds several patents, and is the head of both Intellectual Robust Integrated Systems and Mekhatronika. He is reported to have some serious health conditions, including vision problems and a stent in his heart. It is believed that his arrest is connected with allegations that he leaked secret information to Vietnam, though his lawyer has argued that any information he may have provided is public and not secret.
As scientists we know that international collaboration and sharing of information with international colleagues is a regular and ordinary practice, and increasingly essential to the success of scientific and technical research projects.
We are concerned that our colleague Aleksey Temirev may be facing prosecution for engaging in research collaborations that not only are relatively common, but are likely to benefit Russian science and technology.
We write to urge you to ensure that he is treated fairly, that he is provided with adequate medical treatment, and regular access to family and independent legal representation. We further urge that whatever legal proceedings are held in his case meets international standards for fair trials. If he was in fact engaged in ordinary international scientific collaboration, he must be released immediately and unconditionally.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We will be closely following developments in this case.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
cc.:
Ambassador Anatoly Antonov,
Embassy of the Russian Federation
2650 Wisconsin Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 1 202 298 5700 I Fax: 1 202 298 5735
Email: rusembusa@mid.ru
Twitter: @mfa_russia
