Physicist Dmitry Kolker, 54, was taken from his hospital bed, where he was being fed through a tube, and put on a more than four-hour flight to Moscow, where lawyers said he was taken to Lefortovo prison and later died at a nearby hospital . His cousin Anton Dianov told Reuters from the United States that the charge against the laser expert – that he had betrayed state secrets to China – was absurd.
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“He was a scientist, he loved his country, he worked in his country despite many invitations from leading universities and laboratories to go and work abroad. He wanted to work in Russia, he wanted to teach students there,” he said. Story continues below ad “These charges are absolutely ridiculous and extremely cruel and unusual to impose on such a sick man. They knew he was on his deathbed and chose to arrest him.” Family and lawyers said Kolker was arrested and his home was searched by the FSB security service. They said the treason charges – which carry up to 20 years in prison – were based on lectures Kolker had given in China, even though the content had been approved by the FSB. Trending Stories
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Reuters did not receive a response to an emailed request for comment from the FSB. 2:31 ‘I had to do what I could’: Canadian fighting on Ukraine’s frontline ‘I had to do what I could’: Canadian fighting on Ukraine’s frontline Lawyer Alexander Fedulov told Reuters he tried to contact authorities on Kolker’s behalf, but was turned away from the FSB’s investigative department and from prison. He said he would file a legal complaint Monday about the conditions of Kolker’s detention. Story continues below ad On Saturday, the state-run TASS news agency reported that Russia had arrested a second scientist in Novosibirsk on suspicion of treason. It was not clear if the two cases are connected. Several Russian scientists have been arrested and charged with treason in recent years for allegedly leaking sensitive material to foreigners. Kremlin critics say the arrests often stem from unfounded paranoia. Dianov, the cousin, said Kolker was also a very successful pianist and organist who performed both in Russia and Europe. “To me, someone who produced such beautiful things could not have done what they are accusing him of. And that’s how I’ll remember him forever,” she said, fighting back tears. “This is Dima for me and the rest of the family.” (Reporting by ReutersEditing by Alexandra Hudson)
