A Russian scientist has been arrested in a probe into allegations staff at a top space research centre have been passing information on the country's weapons programme to the West, agencies reported Tuesday.

The Roscosmos space organisation confirmed in comments to agencies that 74-year-old Viktor Kudryavtsev from the Central Research Institute of Machine Building near Moscow had been detained.

Award-winning scientist Kudryavtsev insisted he was not guilty of treason, his son said in reported comments.

Roscosmos denied reports a second employee of the research institute had been arrested.

Russia's FSB security services last week raided the institute on the basis that Western security services had obtained information on secret hypersonic developments by Russian industry.

Sources told the Kommersant newspaper the probe was over "high treason," with around 10 people suspected of "cooperation with Western secret services."

The Russian space agency confirmed an investigation was taking place, saying it was looking at events in 2013.

The probe comes after President Vladimir Putin in March boasted in a state-of-the-nation address of new "invincible" weapons under development, including hypersonic missiles.

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Russia raids space research centre in 'treason probe': reports
Moscow (AFP) July 20, 2018
Russia's FSB security services on Friday raided a top space research centre in a probe into staff alleged to be spying for the West, the Kommersant daily reported, citing sources. "This morning, the FSB raided offices of staff at the Central Research Institute of Machine-Building," which is a subsidiary of Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, Kommersant reported, citing sources in law enforcement agencies. It reported that the FSB carried out raids in the town of Korolyov outside Moscow after fi ... read more