Russian hypersonic missile expert is detained on suspicion of handing secrets to foreign nations
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Russian hypersonic missile expert is detained on suspicion of handing secrets to foreign nations as Putin’s ‘paranoia’ sparks ‘witch hunt’
- Professor Alexander Shiplyuk was held in Novosibirsk, Siberia
- There he heads the Insitute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
- He is the latest to be held in a wave of arrests of leading researchers
- Detained on suspicion of handing secrets to foreign powers
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A leading Russian hypersonic missile expert has been detained on suspicion of high treason.
Professor Alexander Shiplyuk, 55, was held in a swoop by the FSB counter-intelligence agency in Novosibirsk, Siberia where he heads the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.
The respected academic is the latest to be held in a wave of arrests of leading researchers on suspicion of handing secrets to foreign powers.
Like the others he was flown to notorious Lefortovo prison in Moscow for interrogation.
Announcing his arrest, TASS state news agency called him an ‘acclaimed Russian scientist’.
Professor Alexander Shiplyuk, 55, pictured, was held in a swoop by the FSB counter-intelligence agency in Novosibirsk, Siberia where he heads the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. The respected academic is the latest to be held in a wave of arrests of leading researchers on suspicion of handing secrets to foreign powers
In June, the institute’s chief researcher Professor Anatoly Maslov, 75, pictured, a pioneer of hypersonic technologies, was held
Three days later Professor Dmitry Kolker, 54, pictured, of the Institute of Laser Physics in Novosibirsk, was also held, despite having fourth stage cancer. He was also held on suspicion of treason, and died in custody on 2 July
In June, the institute’s chief researcher Professor Anatoly Maslov, 75, a pioneer of hypersonic technologies, was held.
Scientific director Vasily Fomin told TASS today: ‘Investigative activities were held in the institute.
‘They are linked with our director, Alexander Shiplyuk, who has been arrested.
‘He is faced with the same charges as Maslov – high treason.’
Three days later Professor Dmitry Kolker, 54, of the Institute of Laser Physics in Novosibirsk, was also held, despite having fourth stage cancer.
A Western diplomat source has said of the arrests that Putin’s government sees ‘traitors’ everywhere. Pictured: Alexander Shiplyuk, the latest to be detained for treason
He was also held on suspicion of treason, and died in custody on 2 July.
A Western diplomat source said: ‘Putin’s government sees traitors everywhere in a sign of rising paranoia. It’s like a witch hunt.’
Those convicted face up to 20 years in jail.
The arrests come during the damaging war with Ukraine.
If Alexander Shiplyuk, pictured, is convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Shiplyuk’s institute specialises in high-speed aero-gas dynamics
Putin has insisted that Russia’s hypersonic technology is superior to any in the world.
The Maslov and Kolker cases were seen as being linked to espionage by China, supposedly a Russian ally.
Shiplyuk’s institute specialises in high-speed aero-gas dynamics and experimental research of gas flows.
Key areas of his research interest include experimental aero-thermal dynamics of hypersonic aircraft with straight jet engines.
Key area of Shiplyuk’s (right) research include experimental aero-thermal dynamics of hypersonic aircraft with straight jet engines