Russian scientist dies two days after arrest
Created: 04/07/2022, 14:39
By: Lukas Zigo
Alexander Bortnikov (left), head of the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, and Sergei Naryshkin, head of the Russian foreign intelligence service SWR.
(Archive photo) © Alexei Nikolsky/dpa
A terminally ill Russian scientist is arrested in hospital and flown to Moscow because of lectures given in China.
There he died.
MOSCOW - Last week a Russian laser scientist was arrested in Siberia on suspicion of treason and flown to Moscow despite suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer.
According to his lawyers and a family member, he passed away on Sunday (03 July 2022).
Physicist Dimitri Kolker, 54, was pulled from his hospital bed, where he was being tube-fed.
He was put on a more than four-hour flight to Moscow, where he was taken to Lefortovo prison, according to lawyers, and later died in a nearby hospital.
Russia: Laser specialist is said to have betrayed state secrets to China
The scientist's cousin, Anton Dianov, told
Reuters
news agency that the allegations against the laser specialist that he had leaked state secrets to China were absurd.
“He was a scientist, he loved his country, he worked in his country despite many invitations from leading universities and laboratories to work abroad.
He wanted to work in Russia, he wanted to teach students there,” he said.
"These allegations are absolutely ridiculous and extremely cruel and unusual for such a sick man.
They knew he was on his deathbed and decided to arrest him."
Russia: Scientist is said to have committed high treason in lectures in China
The family and the lawyers said Kolker was arrested by the security service FSB and his house was searched.
They said the charge of treason - which carries a sentence of up to 20 years - was based on lectures Kolker gave in China, although the content was approved by the FSB.
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Lawyer Alexander Fedulov told
Reuters
he tried to contact authorities on Kolker's behalf.
However, he was turned away by the FSB investigative department and the prison.
He said he will file a complaint Monday (June 4, 2022) regarding the circumstances of Kolker's detention.
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Russia: Scientists often arrested for 'unfounded paranoia'
On Saturday (June 2, 2022) the state news
agency TASS
reported that Russia had detained a second scientist in Novosibirsk on suspicion of state treason.
It was not clear if the two cases were linked.
In recent years, a number of Russian scientists have been arrested and charged with treason for allegedly leaking sensitive material to foreigners.
Kremlin critics say the arrests are often the result of unfounded paranoia.
Russian oligarchs and top executives from the oil and gas sector are also increasingly becoming victims of “homicides”.
Russia: Cousin tearfully defends scientists
Cousin Dianov said Kolker was also a highly skilled concert pianist and organist, performing both in Russia and in Europe.
"I believe that someone who has produced such beautiful things cannot have done what they are accused of doing.
And that's how I'll always remember him," he said, fighting back tears.
"That's what Dima means to me and the rest of the family." (lz)
