Russia - Armata tank weapon system designer convicted of treason.

Russia - Armata tank weapon system designer convicted of treason. (RBTH).

Defense physicist Maxim Lyudomirsky, one of the team responsible for developing the weapons systems for Russia's new Armata heavy tank, has been found guilty of treason.

The Moscow City Court sentenced Lyudomirsky, who was arrested back in 2014, to nine years in prison on Nov. 18.

Details of the hearing are not known, since the case is classified and was heard in closed session.

Maxim Lyudomirsky was a co-owner of the Elektrooptika research and production complex and concurrently held the post of chief engineer there.

The complex specializes in the development and manufacture of laser strapdown inertial navigation systems (LINS) (a navigation device for aircraft), their basic elements, as well as specialized software.

Lyudomirsky also designed some of the weapon systems for the Armata heavy tank. He is also the author of a number of works on laser technology.


According to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Lyudomirsky was found to have collaborated with a foreign country, passing valuable information on new developments in the Russian arms industry. Read the full story here.

Russian Officials Order Deportation of Chief Rabbi of Omsk.

Russian Officials Order Deportation of Chief Rabbi of Omsk. (Forward).

The chief rabbi of Omsk in southern Siberia, Asher Krichevsky, was ordered deported by Russian officials, according to Russian media reports.

Krichevsky, 36, was told Tuesday that he and his family — a wife and six children — have 15 days to leave Russia.

The rabbi, who has Israeli citizenship, has worked in Russia as a Chabad emissary for 13 years.

The Federal Migration Service has accused Krichevsky of “illegal trading of alcohol,” Kommersant-Siberia reported Tuesday, but Krichevsky told the newspaper that he has not been told why he is losing his residency permit.

Local news organizations also reported that Krichevsky is under suspicion of spying for Israel, while others believe the decision is politically motivated.

Last month, Krichevsky was fined 2,000 rubles, or about $50, for selling kosher wine from the Chabad House without a liquor license, Kommersant reported.

Omsk Jewish leaders plan to appeal the deportation to Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling Krichevsky “an absolutely apolitical individual,” according to Kommersant.

The newspaper reported, however, that the rabbi may have made anti-government comments in private conversations and that the deportation may be intended to send a message to other religious leaders.

The rabbi has 10 days to appeal the decision. Hmmm.....In he 'good old days' they would send you to Siberia, now they send you to Israel?