ANOTHER SPY SCANDAL IN PRIMORYE

Russia’s Primorye region’s secret services have accused Vladimir Shchurov, head of department at a local oceanology research institute of state secrets divulgence. A similar crimical case against this institute’s another department’s head Vladimir Soifer has recently been closed. FSB picked Shchurov out in last year’s August when the Vladivostok Customs seized devices, so called “vector receivers for acoustic probes,” developed at his laboratory which were to be exported to China. Shchurov also heads Sino-Russian Physical Acoustics Department at Kharbin Engineering University. At present, the scientist is prevented form leaving his place of residence and is unable to come to the University of Washington to present his monograph “Vector Acoustics of Ocean.” He may be facing up to 7 years in prison, the NTV television channel reports.