[fauxpause_]

Each of three top scientists on the weapon said something treasonous? Or collectively as a group? Nah. Dumb theory.

They’re getting arrested because they promised Putin an unstoppable weapon and now he looks like a dumbass.

[int_19h]

Officially they're charged with espionage. The beneficiary wasn't specified, which lead to speculation that it is China, since if it were US or any other Western country, the official propaganda would be running amok with it.

[the_af]

> They’re getting arrested because they promised Putin an unstoppable weapon and now he looks like a dumbass.

You are jumping to wildly unsupported conclusions.

Any of my guesses is more likely.

[dragonwriter]

If making Putin look like a dumbass is a jailable offense, Putin needs to start by arresting himself—no one has done as much of that as he has.

[mrguyorama]

Admitting you are wrong and made mistakes is sort of an impossible task for despot dictators though. He has spent decades killing or jailing anyone who told him something he didn't like, so everyone learned to tell him good news.

It's part of the reason why the initial invasion went so terribly; Putin's analysts told him Kyiv would bend over immediately, and that the public would welcome them as liberators.

Putin smells so much of his own farts that he bought it completely. The analysts were then shocked when Putin said "Okay, invasion today"

[int_19h]

Putin is already in direct violation of article 353 of the Russian Criminal Code:

"Article 353. Planning, Preparing, Initiating, or Waging War of Aggression

1. Planning, preparing, or initiating a war of aggression - is punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of seven to fifteen years.

2. Waging a war of aggression - is punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of ten to twenty years."

[the_af]

Who admits to waging a war of aggression though? Putin is framing this as an act of defense, he says he is acting to prevent Russia's enemies from destroying it.

When in modern times has an aggressor ever framed the aggression in terms different from a righteous defense?

[int_19h]

If Russia actually had separation of powers etc, it would be the courts finding that the war is indeed a war of aggression, of which there is of course ample evidence.

As things are, if he's still alive by the time regime in Russia changes, that will probably be (one of) the law he will be prosecuted under.