Imprisoned Russian researcher Valery Kachin’s reported mistreatment and deteriorating health raise urgent concerns, prompting calls for medical care, protection from abuse, and an independent review of his prosecution.
November 5, 2026
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
President of the Russian Federation
23/16 Ulitsa Ilyinka
Moscow, 103132
Russian Federation
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 throughout the world.
We write to express our concern about the imprisonment and reported mistreatment of Valery Kachin, a researcher specializing in geodesy who worked at the Bastak Nature Reserve in Birobidzhan. Kachin was arrested in 2022 on charges of high treason and sentenced in January 2025 to fourteen years in a strict-regime penal colony. He is also the father of a young daughter who has been separated from him since his arrest.
According to the Federal Security Service, Kachin was accused of planning to travel to Ukraine and transmitting classified information concerning the Birobidzhan region. We understand that Kachin had also publicly expressed support for Alexei Navalny and opposition to the war in Ukraine. These circumstances raise concerns about the possible role of his political views in his prosecution. We believe that the charges against him and the fairness of the proceedings deserve independent examination.
We are particularly alarmed by reports from October 2026 concerning Kachin’s deteriorating health and treatment in detention. According to these reports, he began refusing food and water in protest against repeated confinement in a punishment cell and alleged physical abuse by prison staff. His reported weight of approximately 132 pounds, at a height of nearly six feet, raises additional concerns about his physical condition. Although he reportedly ended his protest after three and a half days, serious questions remain about his health and safety.
We respectfully urge you to intervene to ensure that Kachin receives appropriate medical care, is protected from further mistreatment, and is permitted regular contact with his family and legal counsel. We also request an independent investigation of his allegations of abuse and a review of the charges and judicial proceedings that resulted in his conviction. Should such a review establish that his imprisonment was motivated by the peaceful expression of his political views rather than criminal conduct, we urge that he be released.
We hope that you will give this matter your personal attention on humanitarian grounds. We would appreciate being informed of any steps taken to ensure Kachin’s health, safety, and fair treatment.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander GreerCo-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Cc:
The Honorable Marco Rubio
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
His Excellency Alexander Darchiev
Ambassador of the Russian Federation
Embassy of the Russian Federation
2650 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Fax: +1 202-298-5735 Email: rusembusa@mid.ru
Yana Lantratova
Human Rights Ombudsperson of the Russian Federation
19 Smolensky Boulevard, Building 2
Moscow, 119121
Russian Federation