Elderly Russian Scientist Convicted of Treason Amid Crackdown on Aviation Researchers

Russian Scientist Convicted of Treason Amid Crackdown on Aerospace Experts
In a worrying trend for Russia’s scientific community, 77-year-old aerodynamics specialist Anatoly Maslov has been sentenced to 14 years in jail on charges of treason. Arrested in June 2022, Maslov, a former head of a laboratory at the Institute for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in Novosibirsk, was accused of passing classified information to Germany in 2014, allegations he and his supporters vehemently deny. His arrest is part of a broader pattern of persecution targeting experts in hypersonic aerodynamics, a field of keen interest to President Vladimir Putin because of its military applications, especially in hypersonic weapons.
More than 400 of Maslov’s colleagues have voiced their concern, noting the regularity of such cases against aviation scientists in Russia, though their open letter was subsequently removed. Since 2018, at least 12 individuals in the hypersonic field have faced treason charges, with at least three dying in custody. Legal representatives involved in these cases suggest that the crackdown is motivated by Putin’s ambition to advance Russia’s hypersonic capabilities, often showcased in his public addresses.
This series of arrests, all managed by the Federal Security Service’s Moscow headquarters, seems aimed at demonstrating the global espionage threat against Russian research, despite the accused scientists maintaining their innocence and the legality of their work. Critics argue that these actions are part of a broader strategy to intimidate and control the scientific community, potentially stifling innovation and international collaboration.
Maslov’s conviction, based largely on the testimony of a fellow scientist also convicted of treason, underscores the precarious position of Russian researchers involved in sensitive or dual-use technologies. The crackdown has led to a chilling effect on scientific inquiry and international cooperation, with institutes like Maslov’s former employer ceasing all foreign engagements and hypersonic research.
As Russia continues to deploy hypersonic weapons, such as the Kinzhal missile used in Ukraine, the cases against scientists like Maslov highlight a paradox: the nation seeks to lead in technologies it simultaneously punishes its own experts for exploring. With no indication of a policy shift, the scientific community anticipates further arrests, signaling an ongoing “conveyor of repression” against Russian scientists.