Deputy Chairman of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO, deputy of the State Duma Sergei Mitrokhin called the sentencing of professor of the Bauman State Technical University Anatoli Babkin another episode in the spy-mania campaign.

"The cases of Grigory Pasko, Alexander Nikitin, and Igor Sutyagin are parts of this campaign," said Mitrokhin.

The YABLOKO deputy is also certain that spy mania does not only take Russia back to the era of totalitarianism, but also contributes in this case to the brain drain.

"For scientists in dire straits owing to the lack of state financing, the threat of becoming victims of a witch hunt could be the final straw, the final argument pushing them to emigrate," stressed Mitrokhin.

He also noted that "the absurd decision to issue an eight years suspended sentence is the result of the uncertainty of the prosecutors and others condemning the professor proceeding from their own positions, rather than a demonstration of disrespect to his age or the state of his health."

According to Mitrokhin, "the law-enforcement agencies are turning into prosecution bodies and obviously are afraid of sharp public reaction against unjust sentences: consequently they try to mitigate the consequences of their actions for the convicted, by virtually offering them freedom in exchange for silent recognition of their guilt."

Mitrokhin also stated that YABLOKO "thinks it necessary to restore the honour of the victims of spy mania and will support those who refuse such deals, in particular, Grigory Pasko who was released early, but continues to protest his innocence and demand the repeal of the guilty sentence."

See also:

Prof. Babkin Case