Russian Researcher Says Taliban Held Him On Espionage Charges
A Russian researcher who spent 52 days in Taliban custody said he was accused of spying for Moscow and engaging in anti-government propaganda.
Svyatoslav Kaverin told the Russian news agency TASS that upon his transfer to Kabul, the Taliban charged him with espionage and spreading anti-state propaganda. He said the group also accused him of smuggling jewellery and obtaining a tourist visa illegally when he entered Afghanistan from Tajikistan.
The Russian Foreign Ministry previously said the Taliban released Kaverin because of Moscow’s “friendly relations” with the group.
Kaverin said he intends to return to Afghanistan for “scientific research.” He explained that since the Taliban’s return to power, it has been possible to access remote areas where scientific studies had not been conducted for 50 to 100 years, or in some cases, ever. He noted that only German researchers in 1935, Soviet geologists in the 1960s, and a Russian biologist in 1924 had previously visited such locations.
The anthropologist said he was gathering information on language, culture and history, while also photographing plants, animals and other aspects of Afghanistan’s environment.
Kaverin added that one of his cellmates in Taliban custody was a Chinese national arrested for photographing a Taliban checkpoint. He said Chinese authorities secured that man’s release within 15 days.
