Russia charges noted scientist with treason for passing state secrets to China
Moscow: Russia has charged a top scientist of the country with treason after accusing him of passing state secrets to China.
Valery Mitko, 78, President of the St. Petersburg Arctic Social Sciences Academy, was charged with treason, his lawyer Ivan Pavlov told TASS on Monday.
"According to the investigation, during his trip to China, Mitko handed over classified materials to the Chinese intelligence. After his return to Russia, a search took place in his apartment; he was charged with [treason]," the lawyer told the Russian news agency.
Valery Mitko has denied the allegations.
"The court has put him under house arrest at his apartment in the Leningrad Region. I have already appealed against this ruling," Pavlov said, without providing further details.
According to a TASS source familiar with the case, the investigation believes that Mitko gave China information on research on hydro acoustics and submarine detection methods.
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