Several expert studies assigned to case of scientist Lapygin accused of treason - source
MOSCOW. Aug 18 (Interfax) - Law enforcement agencies assigned a number of expert assessments to the case of Vladimir Lapygin, the 75-year-old scientist and an employee of the Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TsNIIMash) who is charged with high treason, a source familiar with the situation told Interfax.
"These expert studies will have to establish whether there are elements of a crime, stipulated for in the respective article of the Russian criminal code, in Lapygin's actions," the source said.
He said that this was a common practice in investigating criminal cases of such a nature. The source also said that, according to some reports, the scientist is suspected of collaboration with one of the Asian governments.
For many years, Lapygin had been working at the TsNIIMash, a leading research branch of Russia's Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), also teaching at Bauman Moscow State Technical University (MGTU). Born on August 27, 1940, he once became the Head of the Centre for couple air gas dynamics.
Moscow's Lefortovsky district court placed the defendant under house arrest after he was detained in May 2015.
Any official confirmation of this information is not available to Interfax.