Endangered Scholars Worldwide

February 09, 2010

Subject:
Dr. Igor Sutyagin

Dear Mr President,

I am writing to you to express my deep concern over recent cases in which the Russian security service has brought espionage charges against researchers and scientists. These cases are setting the very dangerous precedent that in Russia legitimate scientific and policy analysis may be considered a crime.

The most recent court case, that of Dr. Igor Sutyagin, a researcher at the U.S. and Canada Institute who was sentenced to fifteen years in prison on April 7, 2004, is especially troubling. There are a number of serious questions about the fairness of the proceedings in Dr. Sutyagin’s case. The hearings were closed, denying the society the opportunity to make an informed judgment about merits of the charges brought against Dr. Sutyagin. The information that has been made publicly available strongly indicates both that the charges are unwarranted and that there is no convincing evidence of wrongdoing, for it has never been demonstrated that Dr. Sutyagin was involved in anything but a legitimate analysis of publicly available information. The irregularities in the process, which have been documented by the human rights community, suggest Dr. Sutyagin was not given the proper chance to defend himself in a fair trial.

I understand that Russia’s judicial system gives Dr. Sutyagin an opportunity to appeal his conviction and present the case for his innocence. However, this is not enough. I believe that Russia’s leaders should make it clear to government agencies and to the Russian society, as well as to the international community, that Russia will not tolerate the harassment of researchers and scientists. Instead of fearing prosecution, researchers and scientists should be valued for their role in the pursuit of knowledge and in securing for Russia the place it deserves in the community of nations.

Sincerely,

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Recipient: Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of Russia.