Russian Hypersonics Expert Sentenced to 14 Years for Treason
A Russian court has sentenced 77-year-old physicist Anatoly Maslov to 14 years in a penal colony on charges of treason. Maslov was found guilty of sharing classified information regarding Russia's hypersonic missile program with Germany. The trial, which was closed to the public, concluded with Maslov protesting his innocence. His defense team argued that he had not committed any wrongdoing.
Maslov is one of three scientists from the same Siberian institute specializing in hypersonics who have been arrested on similar charges since 2022. The other two scientists, Alexander Shiplyuk and Valery Zvegintsev, are currently awaiting trial. The charges against all three involve allegedly leaking state secrets during international conferences or research collaborations. These cases have drawn criticism from colleagues and the Kremlin, who have raised concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential impact on the scientific community in Russia.
