14 Dec 2018 18:49

FSB not going to release scientist Kudryavtsev from detention center - lawyer

MOSCOW. Dec 14 (Interfax) - Investigators of the Federal Security Service (FSB) are insisting that the guilt of employee of the Central Scientific-Research Machine-Building Institute (TsNIIMash) Viktor Kudryavtsev, 75, as part of the high treason case is substantiated by the case files, and do not see any reasons for softening the measure of restraint to the scientist, according to his defense lawyers.

"Today, we have received an email message from the FSB to our address signed by the deputy head of the Investigative Directorate department. The special service told us that they find no reasons for changing and cancelling the measure of restraint to Kudryavtsev, because "Kudryavtsev's involvement in the crime incriminated to him is fully proved by the materials of the criminal case," Ivan Pavlov, a lawyer of the scientist and the head of the Team 29 association, told Interfax.

"In such a delicate manner the FSB fully disregarded the presumption of innocence and the necessity of the work of the entire Russian judicial staff. It is only unclear why a trial against Kudryavtsev is needed, if the special service has already completely confirmed his guilt by materials of the criminal case and makes decisions on these grounds," the lawyer said.

On Tuesday, December 18, Moscow's Lefortovsky District Court will hear an investigators' motion to extend the arrest to Kudryavtsev until March 20, 2019.

After Kudryavtsev declined to strike a plea bargain, the investigator banned him from having any meetings with relatives in the detention center, Pavlov told Interfax earlier on Friday.

It was reported about Kudryavtsev's arrest on July 22, when members of the Moscow Public Monitoring Commission have found him at the detention center Lefortovo. The scientist is charged with high treason.