Diplomatic scandal erupts over arrest of Crimean scientist

Ukrainian scientist Leonid Pshenychenov was detained in the occupied Crimea and accused of treason. The international community and the scientist's colleagues condemned the arrest as groundless and called on Russia to release him.

This was reported by The Guardian.

The diplomatic conflict erupted over the detention of a Ukrainian scientist whom the Kremlin accused of undermining Russia's commercial krill fishery in the Antarctic. Leonid Pshenychnynov, a 70-year-old biologist and Antarctic expert, has many years of experience in scientific work and conservation, including supporting marine protected areas in the region. He was preparing to travel to Australia to participate in a conference on the protection of Antarctic marine life when he was arrested in occupied Crimea. After that, Russian security forces accused him of treason.

According to media reports, the document outlining the charges against him describes the scientist as a "Russian citizen" who "went over to the enemy" while helping the Ukrainian delegation at the CCAMLR Antarctic Conference in Hobart, Tasmania. The document states that Pshenychenov allegedly used his research to limit Russia's krill fishery, which is detrimental to Russia's economic interests.

The 27-nation CCAMLR International Commission, which operates under the 1982 Convention, is considering the creation of a marine protected area around the Antarctic Peninsula to protect krill, a key element of the Southern Ocean food chain. Analysts and conservationists accuse China and Russia of blocking the creation of such areas.

Australia has also expressed concern over Pshenychenov's detention, and the UK has called on Moscow to release "all arbitrarily detained civilians."

At the opening of the conference, Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko expressed his deep indignation at Pshenychenov's illegal detention and called on other countries in the commission to condemn Russia's actions. He noted that the scientist has devoted his life to researching and protecting Antarctic marine resources and is not a politician.

Pshenychenov has been conducting research for the CCAMLR since 1983 and has represented Ukraine in the commission since 1994. Myroshnychenko emphasized that the treason charges are fabricated and are related only to the scientist's scientific activities.

Executive Director of the Blue Marine Foundation Dan Crockett noted that Pshenychenov was imprisoned "for nothing but scientific evidence of the impact of krill fishing on the Antarctic ecosystem" and called on the CCAMLR countries to put pressure on Russia to release him and at the same time protect the region's marine resources.

Also, on October 20, the European Court of Human Rights launched an official investigation into cases related to the ban on the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars, which the occupation authorities of Crimea introduced in 2016.

Анна Бальчінос