Oleg Korobeinichev (in photo) said that the investigation against him harmed science in Russia
Photo:
|
 |
FSB Drops Spy Charges against Scientist
The Novosibirsk department of the FSB has closed its investigation of Oleg Korobeinichev, deputy head of the combustion kinetics laboratory at the Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion in the Siberian department of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He was accused of disclosing state secrets by providing information to a U.S. State Department research institute. The investigation began in March of last year but failed to uncover secret ties with the Pentagon.
Investigators held that Korobeinichev revealed secret information concerning rocket fuel in a work funded by a U.S. grant. He has been working at the Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion since 1960. Three prominent scientists, former heads of the institute where he works Yury Tsvetkov and Yury Molin, and current head of the same institute Sergey Dzyuba, spoke in Korobeinichev's defense last December, telling the Public Chamber that there was obviously nothing secret about Korobeinichev's work.
The scientist himself gave his first detailed commentary on the case yesterday, saying that he thought the investigation was ended after investigators consulted with experts. “Only my family and I know what it cost,” he said of the effects of the investigation on his life. He added that he may consider seeking damages from the FSB after he receives official notification of the end of the investigation.
The FSB press service in Novosibirsk has declined to confirm or deny the dismissal of the case, saying that no order has been received to disclose that information.
This is the second case against a scientist that has been dropped by the FSB before reaching court for lack of evidence. The first case was against Vladimir Soifer of the Pacific Oceanology Institute.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 29, 2007
|
|
|
