Russian Court Cuts Physicist's Sentence For Spying

Physicist Valentin Danilov stands outside the Krasnoyarsk regional court during his trial in 2004.

A court Siberia has reduced the prison sentence of a Russian scientist convicted of passing missile secrets to China.

A spokeswoman for the court in the city of Krasnoyarsk announced on November 13 that physicist Valentin Danilov's sentence had been shortened by more than three years.

Danilov was arrested in February 2001 and sentenced to 14 years in November 2004 on espionage charges.

Danilov has proclaimed his innocence and said the information he provided came from open sources, including scientific papers he previously published.

He also said he got official clearance for his contacts with the Chinese.

His case was widely seen as part of official campaign to intimidate academics.

Danilov is due to be released in 10 days.

Based on reporting by AP, ITAR-TASS, and Interfax