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 7 April 2004, Dr. Igor Sutyagin received a 15 year sentence. Dr. Sutyagin, a Russian researcher, was first arrested in October 1999 on espionage charges related to research he conducted for a British consulting firm. The Russian government maintains that the firm, Alternative Futures, was a cover for the CIA. Dr. Sutyagin admits conducting the research, but as a civilian researcher with no security clearance, he only used open sources, such as newspaper clippings.

There are several concerns that Dr. Sutyagin did not receive a fair trial. The concerns largely center on the instructions the jurors were given when making their deliberations. They were asked to consider four questions. The first two questions were whether Sutyagin had been recruited by a foreign defense intelligence service and whether he had been paid for the information he provided to that service. The third question was whether Sutyagin should be found guilty based on the answers to the first two questions and the fourth question was whether he deserved leniency. The content of the juror instructions did not ask whether the data prepared in Sutyagin's research were based on state secrets and did not ask if Sutyagin was aware that the firm had intelligence ties. There are reports in the Russian media that as many as three of the jurors may be former FSB employees.

Russian scientists believe that the case against Sutyagin is intended to send a message that the government will crackdown on researchers who have contacts with foreigners. Several other cases have been initiated against scientists who engage in commercial research for foreign firms. Ernest Chyorny of the human rights organization Moscow Helsinki Group warns that scientists are at great risk. In a press report, he stated, "I have no other advice to offer other scientists who have contacts and projects with foreigners than to leave the country and complete them abroad. I know it sounds harsh, but it seems there is no safe alternative."

The defense team is planning to appeal the verdict on procedural grounds. In several other "spy cases" sentences have been reduced and individuals have been paroled.

Dr. Igor Sutyagin is being prosecuted for the peaceful exercise of his freedom of expression and academic freedom, 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).

(Sources of information for this case include: http://www.case52.org, a website about Igor Sutyagin's case maintained by Russian and American colleagues, The Moscow Times, and Bellona.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

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

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• 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.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Expressing concern about the reported irregularities in the trial of Dr. Igor Sutyagin;
• Reminding the government 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;
• Expressing your hope that the Russian courts will continue to support the rule of law and international human rights standards, fairly consider the merits of the case, drop the case if insufficient evidence exists to support the charges, and immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Sutyagin.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
President of Russia
The Kremlin
Moscow
Russia
Fax: (011) 7 095 206 5173 or 7 095 206 6277
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, 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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