Image Credit: BBC News
On September 3, 2024, Alexander Shiplyuk, the 57-year-old director of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Moscow City Court. Shiplyuk, a prominent physicist specializing in hypersonic technology, was convicted of treason. His case has drawn significant attention due to its implications for scientific freedom and national security.
Shiplyuk’s conviction stems from allegations that he disclosed classified information during a 2017 conference in China. The information reportedly pertained to experimental aerothermodynamics in hypersonic aircraft. Despite these charges, Shiplyuk has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting that the information he presented was publicly available.
The court also imposed a fine of 500,000 rubles and an additional 1.5 years of restricted freedom. The prosecution had originally sought a harsher sentence of 20 years in a maximum-security penal colony along with the same fine and two years of restricted freedom. The case remains highly secretive, with only the verdict details publicly disclosed. The defense plans to appeal the sentence.
This case is part of a broader trend of accusations against Russian scientists, as highlighted by an open letter from employees of the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. The letter, addressing the arrest of several scientists on similar charges, criticized the government’s approach, suggesting that these actions stifle scientific collaboration and innovation.
The BBC has reported that over the past six years, more than a dozen Russian physicists have faced treason charges, raising concerns about the impact of such prosecutions on the scientific community. This case underscores ongoing tensions between national security and academic freedom in Russia.