Russian hypersonic aircraft scientist sentenced to prison for treason

Russian hypersonic aircraft scientist sentenced to prison for treason

Following a trial in St. Petersburg’s City Court, which concluded on April 17, Kuranov was found guilty and sentenced to seven years in a high-security prison. / bne IntelliNews

By bne IntelliNews April 21, 2024

Alexander Kuranov, a top Russian scientist once at the forefront of hypersonic technology development, has been sentenced to a seven-year prison sentence for high treason.

Kuranov was once the leader of the Soviet-era Ayaks hypersonic aircraft programme. His arrest in 2021, at the age of 73, sent ripples through scientific circles.

The charges against Kuranov stemmed from accusations of sharing scientific advancements with foreign nationals. Investigators say that Kuranov passed on classified information critical to Russia's national security.

Following a trial in St. Petersburg’s City Court, which concluded on April 17, Kuranov was found guilty and sentenced to seven years in a high-security prison.

Also on April 17, Russia's Supreme Court annulled the guilty verdict of Valery Golubkin, a physicist sentenced to 12 years in jail for passing secrets to an unidentified Nato member. Golubkin, a specialist in aerodynamics and heat exchange of aircraft, was accused of passing information about high-speed experimental flying vehicles. He will now face a retrial.

#russia #treason #aerospace

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