Russia targets Siberian scientists

NOVOSIBIRSK, Russia, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Two Siberian scientists are under criminal investigation for allegedly divulging Russian defense secrets in a book they wrote.

Brothers Igor and Olen Minin were targeted for a section in their book dealing with developments at the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Science's Institute of Applied Physics, Itar-Tass reported Monday.

The two scientists worked at the applied physics institute before joining the Novosibirsk State Technical University located in Russia's third largest city.

They aren't the first Siberian scientists to be accused of trading in state secrets.

Earlier a laboratory chief at the Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion in Siberia was exonerated of charges he passed classified information about solid rocket fuels to the United States.