AAAS: "Release Russian Scientist Dr Kaibyshev"

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has issued an action alert concerning the case of Dr Kaibyshev, Russian scientist accused of espionage and facing 10 years of imprisonment. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In February 2005, the Russian Security Forces (known by their Russian acronym, FSB) detained and interrogated Dr.

Oscar A. Kaibyshev on possible espionage charges related to exporting dual-use technology to South Korea that is technology that has both civilian and military purposes.

Dr. Kaibyshev is the former Director of the Institute for Metals Superplasticity Problems (IMPS), a division of the Russian Academy of Sciences. IMPS is one of Russia's leading research and development centres in the field of materials science and processing. If found guilty Dr. Kaibyshev faces a 10 year prison sentence. In addition to possible criminal charges, Dr. Kaibyshev was also fired from IMPS on 18 January 2005.

The technology in question is superplastic metal in spherical cylinders for use in tire manufacturing. Superplasticity is the process of lining up molecules in a metal to provide resistance to breaking under stress. Dr. Kaibyshev had an agreement with a tire manufacturer, Artisan Spirited Alloy. The research conducted by Dr. Kaibyshev has been patented in the United States and has been the subject of several scientific research articles. In other words, the research in question has been in the public domain for many years and does not contain state secrets.

Dr. Kaibyshev co-authored a forthcoming book on superplasticity, which deals with the technology related to the dual-use export charge. Research for the book involved technical cooperation with US-based companies, including General Electric. The research for the book was funded by the International Science and Technology Centre, a multinational project that funds civilian research for scientists who worked for the former Soviet Union weapons program.

The climate for scientists who maintain international contacts and commercialize their research is very tense in Russia. Many scientists have come under scrutiny from the FSB in so called "spy cases" (please refer to the Related NEAR Alerts link).

According to reports, Dr. Kaibyshev noted that the FSB has been actively restricting the work of IMPS for over two years, including one incident when the FSB took a safe belonging to the Institute. When it was returned, IMPS grant money that had been inside was missing. FSB officials threatened Dr. Kaibyshev when he inquired about the stolen money. Despite threats, he pursued the matter with the authorities and the Office of the Public Prosecutor found the FSB guilty.

In order to remove any suggestion of impropriety, the Russian Academy of Sciences conducted an independent audit of all of IMPS' contracts. They found that no unauthorized data was exported to any country.
Dr. Kaibyshev remains under house arrest and is prohibited from leaving his hometown of Ufa.

Relevant Human Rights Standards

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
Article 19(2): Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his [her] choice.
Article 22: Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
Article 19(2): Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this
right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his [her] choice.
Article 22: Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others.
Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20(1): Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Expressing your concern about the FSB investigation of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Metals Superplasticity Problems (IMPS) and its director, Dr. Oscar A. Kaibyshev because it appears that the IMPS was engaged in legitimate scientific research;

• Requesting that Dr. Kaibyshev be removed from house arrest pending the conclusion of the investigation; and

• Reminding the government that prosecuting an individual solely for the peaceful exercise of his or her right to freedom of expression and associate is in direct violation of several human rights standards that the Russian Federation is obligated under international law to uphold, and that freedom of expression is central to the scientific mission.

APPEALS TO:

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
President of Russia The Kremlin Moscow Russia
Fax: (011) 7 095 206 5173 or 7 095 206 6277
Email: president@gov.ru
Salutation: Your Excellency:

Copies sent to:
Yuri V. Ushakov
Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States
Embassy of the Russian Federation to the United States 2650 Wisconsin =
Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20007
Fax: (202) 298-5737
Salutation: Dear Mr. Ambassador

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Natalie Nicora, NEAR, natalie.nicora@nearinternational.org'>natalie.nicora@nearinternational.org
Victoria Baxter, vbaxter@aaas.org

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 60 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

URGENT
NEAR cannot continue without your support.

NEAR depends on the generosity of people like you. To make a contribution, please:
• Make a GIFT by sending us a cheque payable to 'NEAR' and sending it to our address
• Or give a donation by visiting www.paypal.com, please make your payments payable to:

NEAR
London South Bank University
Technopark
90 London Road
SE1 9LN, London, UK

Email address: natalie.nicora@nearinternational.org'>natalie.nicora@nearinternational.org

Alert - Russia

Related Links