Committee of Concerned Scientists

An international non-profit organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of our colleagues around the world.

An independent non-profit organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of our colleagues around the world.

Our Work

22-Year-Old Russian Mathematician Detained on State Treason Charges Over Aid to Ukrainian Children

Leonid Maksimovich Kats,a 22-year-old Russian mathematician and promising young scholar, has been detained since September 2025 and held in pretrial detention on a state treason charge reportedly linked to a donation to a charity assisting Ukrainian children. The evidence against him remains unavailable to the public, as the case is being conducted behind closed doors. CCS urges authorities to ... Continue Reading>>

U.S. Seismologist Detained by China for Alleged Espionage Charges

Chinese-born U.S. citizen and seismologist Youlin Chen was recently arrested for nearly two years and faces trial on accounts of espionage. These charges have raised concerns over U.S.-China relations. Chen's ​work as a seismographer focuses on publishing U.S. funded work surrounding North Korean nuclear tests. This arrest of a US citizen contradicts China’s reputation for producing and promoting ... Continue Reading>>

Wildlife Conservationists in Iran Arrested Again for Studying Endangered Cheetah Species Two Years After Being Freed

Wildlife conservationists Houman Jowkar and Sepideh Kashani, as well as Sima Kashani, the sister of Sepideh, were arrested on July 1, 2026. The conservationists were members of the now-defunct Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF) regarded for its years-long work on the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus). ... Continue Reading>>

U.S. Scholar Detained in China for Alleged Espionage

University of California, Berkeley, PhD Candidate and ISP-Myanmar think tank founder Min Zin was recently arrested in China on charges that appear to be politically motivated. This arrest of a US citizen contradicts China’s reputation as a country that welcomes constructive international engagement. https://www.npr.org/2026/06/12/nx-s1-5856394/china-arrest-us-citizen-myanmar ... Continue Reading>>

Associate Professor at the Higher School of Economics in Russia Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Prison

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 ... Continue Reading>>

Russian Hypersonic Physicists Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison

Valery Zvegintsev (​Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and ⁠Applied Mechanics) and Vladislav Galkin (Tomsk Polytechnic University), hypersonic physicists, aged 81 and 72 respectively were recently sentenced to more than 12 years in a penal colony for activities that are essential for scientific progress. These sentences follow almost 3 years in detention since their original arrest. Click ... Continue Reading>>

CONTACT

Edyta Greer
Executive Director
P.O. Box 112
New York, NY 10159
emgreer@concernedscientists.org