Russia sentences hypersonic weapons expert to 14 years in prison for treason

Russian physicist Anatoly Maslov was convicted of treason and sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony on Tuesday (21), in the latest of several prosecutions against experts working on the science that underpins the development of hypersonic missiles in Russia.

Maslov, 77, stood in a glass box in the St. Petersburg courtroom and listened intently, showing no emotion, as the judge read the verdict after a trial closed to the press. He claimed to be innocent.

Maslov is one of three scientists from the same Siberian institute, all experts in hypersonics, who have been arrested since 2022 on charges of treason. The other two, Alexander Shiplyuk and Valery Zvegintsev, are awaiting trial.

The trio, and several other scientists accused in similar cases, carried out theoretical work in areas relevant to the development of hypersonic missiles – cutting-edge weapons capable of carrying payloads at up to 10 times the speed of sound to pierce air defense systems.

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is the world leader in these weapons, which he acknowledged using in the war in Ukraine.

Lawyer Yevgeny Smirnov from Pervy Otdel (First Department), an association specializing in defending people in cases of treason and espionage, said the allegations against all the accused scientists were similar – disclosing information considered a state secret while participating in an international conference or research.

“Any conviction against Maslov is a serious violation of the law,” he said. “I am sure that Maslov is not guilty of the acts accused of him and is a victim of the policies of the Russian authorities.”

Source: CNN Brasil

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