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Date: 7 January 2004
Victim: Valentin Danilov
Country: Russia
Subject: Dr. Valentin Danilov Acquitted
Case Number: re0208_dan
Type of alert: New
2 October 2002
Issues: Academic and scientific freedom; Freedom of opinion
and expression

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 29 December 2003, a jury acquitted Dr. Valentin Danilov
of espionage charges.  The Russian Security Service
arrested Valentin Danilov, head of the Thermo-Physics
Center at Krasnoyarsk State Technical University, in
February 2001 on charges of treason and fraud for allegedly
selling top secret satellite information to a Chinese
company.  His research dealt with the effect of solar
activity on space satellites. Dr. Danilov has consistently
maintained that this information has been available in
scientific journals and had been declassified for over 10
years.  

According to the chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki group, a
human rights organization in Russia, “There is a trend to
arrest scientists and accuse them of spying without any
foundation.”  Faced with increased economic hardships, many
scientists have turned to commercial ventures abroad.  

The positive resolution of Dr. Danilov’s case appears to be
related to the fact that the case was tried before a jury. 
Jurors appear to be better shielded from political
pressures than trials held before judges.

Last spring, a regional court ruled that Dr. Danilov could
be released on bail, but his family was unable to raise the
necessary funds.  The American Physical Society initiated a
successful campaign to raise the money.  In total, they
raised over $4,000 from 40 U.S.-based scientists.  The
money raised by the physicists was highly publicized in
Russia and was effective in demonstrating the strong
international support for Dr. Danilov.

Dr. Danilov reports that he is doing well.  He suffered a
heart attack while in pretrial detention and was briefly
hospitalized.  The years he spent in jail took a serious
toll on his health.  

 (Sources of information for this case include: American
Physical Society Committee for the International Freedom of
Scientists and the The New York Times article, “Rare
Russian Jury Acquits Scientist in Spy Case” by Seth Mydans,
published on 30 December 2003.)


RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHT STANDARDS:

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

No action is necessary at this time for Dr. Danilov’s case.
 Many thanks to all those who sent letters of appeal.  



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.

PLEASE NOTE: You may view the digitally signed version of
the AAASHRAN alert on the World Wide Web at:

http://shr.aaas.org/aaashran/alert.php?a_id=264


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