Andrei Dymov, associate professor of the Higher School of Economics was sentenced on May 25, 2026 to 3.5 years in prison by the Zyuzinsky District Court in Russia for allegedly “financing extremist activities” by making, donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in August 2021. The Committee is concerned by the extreme speed by which the prosecution proceeded and the excessive sentence for a nonviolent crime urges the Russian government to reconsiderthecase of Dymov as a violation of free speech.
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June 8, 2026
His Excellency, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
President of the Russian Federation
Ulitsa 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 Andrei Dymov, associate professor of the Higher School of Economics and Steklov Mathematical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences senior research fellow. He has been recognized multiple times in a row as one of HSE’s top instructors. On May 25, 2026, he was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison by the Zyuzinsky District Court for allegedly “financing extremist activities” by making donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in August 2021. This sentencing was preceded by an unnecessarily violent arrest and indictment roughly a month before.
The Committee is concerned by the extreme speed by which the prosecution proceeded and the excessive sentence for a nonviolent crime. Defendants must be given more time to prepare their defense. This case seems to be part of recurring pattern, given the recent sentencing of physicist Yevgeny Onishchenko for similar alleged crimes. The Committee is especially concerned that this case might be retaliation for the opposition of some academics to the policies of your government.
We write to urge your government to reconsider the case of Dymov as a violation of free speech. This case threatens civil society in Russia and the prestigious status of the Higher School of Economics, especially if faculty need to be concerned about arbitrary arrests.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We will be closely following developments in this case.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
CC:
Marco Rubio
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
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Washington, DC 20520
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Ambassador Anatoly Antonov,
Embassy of the Russian Federation
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Washington, DC 20007
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