Golubkin was a professor of the Department of Theoretical and Applied Aerohydromechanics at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. He holds the degree of a Doctor of Technical Sciences, and is a lead researcher at the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. In April 2020, Golubkin’s flat and dacha were searched, and law enforcement officers also came to the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. In December 2020, Anatoly Gubanov, the head of the department where Golubkin worked, was arrested. At the same time, Golubkin’s home was searched, during which the scientist, in his words, was warned that he could be next. In April 2021, he was summoned for a conversation, after which he was taken into custody in a case of treason committed in favour of the Netherlands, which was manifested, according to the investigation, in a transfer of documents containing state secrets to the Netherlands. However, before the transfer, the documents were checked by three special committees, which all confirmed that the documents did not contain any state secrets. Investigative actions did not begin until mid-May 2021. He was offered to plead guilty in exchange for a relatively short sentence. Golubkin did not admit guilt. His boss Anatoly Gubanov was later reported to have testified against Golubkin – apparently after receiving threats from the investigator. At the trial, Gubanov, as well as other witnesses, said that Golubkin did everything in accordance with the law. On 26 June 2023, Golubkin was sentenced to 12 years in a strict regime colony. On 17 April 2024, the court of cassation reversed the decision of the court of appeal to affirm the sentence and returned the case back to the latter. On 19 June, the court of appeal again confirmed the sentence.

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