AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

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FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 27 June 2002, Russian authorities transferred Dr. Igor Sutyagin, a researcher with the U.S. and Canada Institute in Moscow, to a Moscow prison. The investigation into his case was also transferred from the Kaluga branch to the central department of the Federal Security Service (known by its Russian acronym, FSB). Dr. Sutyagin faces charges of treason and espionage in connection with research he conducted for a British consulting firm. Dr. Sutyagin's research dealt with civilian-military relations in Russia. He maintains that he used non-classified research, such as newspaper articles, and that as a civilian researcher with no security clearance, he did not have access to any classified materials. Russian authorities contend that the accuracy of the research indicates that Dr. Sutyagin had to have used classified documents to draw his conclusions. However, the FSB investigation, which has dragged on for more than two-and-a-half years and has included numerous and thorough investigations of Dr. Sutyagin's office and home, has failed to turn up any evidence that he had access to classified materials.

Dr. Sutyagin has been in jail since his initial arrest in October 1999. His case was heard in the Kaluga Regional Court in a closed door trial that began in early 2001. In December 2001, the regional court ruled that the indictment presented by the FSB was too vague and the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to convict Dr. Sutyagin. However, instead of dismissing the case at that point, the Kaluga court sent the case back to the FSB for further investigation. His lawyers appealed the imposition of a second investigation to the Russian Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decisions both to proceed with a second investigation and to keep Dr. Sutyagin in detention pending the second trial, which is now expected to begin in October or November 2002.

Dr. Sutyagin's lawyers believe that the transfer of the court case and FSB investigation to Moscow is a troubling sign. They believe that by bringing the case to Moscow, the central FSB office will put additional pressure on the court and make it politically difficult for the court to acquit Dr. Sutyagin. The lawyers are also concerned because Moscow city courts have rendered guilty verdicts in similar so-called "spy trials," in which the government is alleging treason and the FSB has failed to provide compelling evidence. Recently, the courts upheld the conviction of Grigory Pasko, a journalist who wrote articles exposing dumping of nuclear waste by the Russian Pacific Fleet. Amnesty International adopted Pasko as a prisoner of conscience and believes he is being targeted for whistle blowing.

There is great concern that Dr. Igor Sutyagin is being prosecuted for the peaceful exercise of his freedom of expression and academic freedom, which is in violation of several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted without opposition by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the Russian Federation is a state party).

(Source of information for this case is http://www.case52.org, a website about Igor Sutyagin's case.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Article 12: (1): The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. (2): The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for: (c) The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases; (d) The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Expressing concern at the continued lack of evidence to support the charges of treason and espionage against Dr. Igor Sutyagin and the apparent prosecution of Dr. Sutyagin for conducting legitimate academic research;
• Reminding the court that prosecuting an individual solely for the peaceful exercise of his or her right to freedom of expression 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;
• Requesting that Dr. Sutyagin be released from pretrial detention as he has already spent more than two-and-a-half years in detention and his health has suffered greatly; and
• Expressing your hope that the Russian courts will continue to support the rule of law and international human rights standards, dismiss the case for lack of evidence, and immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Sutyagin.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

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

COPIES SENT TO:

Yuri V. Ushakov
Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States
Embassy of the Russian Federation
2650 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Fax: (202) 298-5735
Salutation: Dear Mr. Ambassador

Andrei Blinushov
Human Rights Network
390000, Ryazan-Center
P.O.Box 20
Russia
Fax: 011 7 (095) 206-0582
moscow@hro.org
Salutation: Dear Mr. Blinushov

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.

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