Two Prominent Russian Scientists Unfairly Sentenced to Penal Colony

November 14, 2023

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
President of the Russian Federation
Ul.Ilyinka, 23
103132 Moscow,
Russian Federation
Fax: +7 495 9102134
X: @KremlinRussia

Dear President Putin:

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 are writing in regard to two prominent Russian physicists: Anatoly Gubanov of Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) and Valery Golubkin – Professor of Aerodynamics at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT). Gubanov was arrested in December 2020 and Golubkin in April 2021. They were accused of giving secret information to the European Space Agency despite being cleared in advance by Russian authorities for their collaboration with the agency. Both were charged with high treason, and each received a sentence of twelve years in a penal colony.

The Committee is concerned Professors Gubanov and Golubkin are two of several Russian scientists who have recently been unfairly prosecuted without proper procedure nor consideration of facts (others include Alexander Kuranov and Sergey Meshcheryakov), possibly due to political pressure. Furthermore, Professor Gubanov is sixty-six years old, and Professor Golubkin is seventy. We are concerned that putting people of that age in a penal colony for twelve years amounts to a death sentence.

We write to urge your government to reconsider the sentencing of Professors Gubanov and Golubkin. Since they did go through the proper channels, which showed respect for the rule of law, we urge you to release them or place them under house arrest. While they remain in prison, their health should be evaluated, and they should be provided with appropriate medical care.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We will be closely following further developments in the cases of these two scientists.

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

Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
Phone: (202) 647-4000
X: @ABlinken