Nature 404, 10 - 11 (2000) � Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
Spying charges against Ukrainian researcher dropped
[ LONDON] The Ukrainian security services have dropped all charges against marine biologist Sergey Piontkovski who, with colleagues from the Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas in Kiev, had been under investigation since last October over his links with foreign funding agencies (see Nature 401, 835; 1999, Nature 402, 6; 1999 ).
Charges against Piontkovski for illegal currency operations and 'organized crime' were due to be heard this month, but were dismissed last week, and his passport was returned. All charges were also been dropped against others involved in the case (see Nature 402 , 454; 1999).
Piontkovski, an expert in the dynamics of plankton populations, says he assumes the move is a "result of all that's being going on, including the reaction of the world's media and all the letters". A representative from the European aid programme INTAS � which funds Piontkovski's work and that
of other Ukrainian scientists � recently visited the local prosecutor, a move that may have influenced the decision to halt prosecution.
If successful in obtaining a visa, Piontkovski says that his immediate plan is to pursue his research at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the United Kingdom. He hopes to leave this week, but expresses concern that "there might be incidents at the border".