Russian scientist, his wife and son suspected of industrial espionage arrested in Bulgaria

The District Court of the Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora has left under arrest the Russian inventor of cumulative ammunition and two Lithuanian citizens suspected of industrial espionage, writes “Monitor”. According to the publication, the defendants in the case were a world-famous gunsmith, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergei Zonenko, as well as his wife Olga and son Veniamin, who have Lithuanian citizenship.

The arrest operation was carried out on October 5 with the participation of employees of the territorial administration “National Security” in Stara Zagora and with the assistance of the border police. The suspects in espionage tried to leave the country through the checkpoint “Kulata”. Evidence was found in their car informs Euronews.

Zonenko has been in Bulgaria for eight years. He worked at the plant of the Bulgarian arms company Arsenal in the city of Kazanlak and was in charge of the cumulative ammunition division.

The lawyer sought to change the measure of restraint to house arrest or recognizance not to leave, but the suspects remained in custody. The investigation believes that at large they “can hide or destroy evidence.”

Earlier, the Bulgarian Interior Ministry reported that a Russian and two Lithuanian citizens who worked at the Arsenal military plant were detained on suspicion of transferring confidential data. It was indicated that we are talking about a 24-year-old and 59-year-old suspect from Lithuania and a 60-year-old Russian citizen who worked at the enterprise under an employment contract. Their activities were related to innovative technologies.

The investigation began after the plant noticed the loss of products and related documents of a confidential nature, which were of interest to Bulgarian and foreign competitors.

The Russian Embassy stated RIA Novosti, which did not receive notification from the Bulgarian authorities about the arrest of the Russian.

Sergei Zonenko graduated from the Department of Hydrodynamics, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow State University. In 1987 he defended his thesis related to the safety of nuclear reactors.

Before moving to Bulgaria, Sergei Zonenko founded the Zonenko Shaped Charges Company, which developed perforating charges for oil and gas production based on his cumulation theory.

The Arsenal Arms Factory in Bulgaria is a major manufacturer and exporter of firearms and ammunition. The plant, in particular, produces various types of small arms, grenade launchers, artillery and anti-aircraft guns.