Statement by the Yabloko Chairman, 8.02.2025

Photo: Vladimir Putin meets with young scientists in the Kremlin/ Photo by the Press Service of the President of Russia

February 8 marks Russian Science Day. In recent years, this memorable day has been marred by systematic repressions against scientists, and above all, employees of scientific institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

An analysis of criminal cases against employees of the Russian Academy of Sciences demonstrates catastrophic trends that threaten the future of Russian science.

For example, since 2019, 25 well-known scientists have been arrested in the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences alone, with 57% of criminal cases falling under the article on treason. People receive [court] sentences of 15-year imprisonment, regardless of their merits and talents, and sometimes even their venerable age, at which any imprisonment actually becomes lifelong. Often, cases end tragically: it was reported of at least two cases of suspects dying during investigation and arrest.

The reason for such a ruthless fight of the state against the scientific community is the paranoid fear of the special services of the freedom-loving views of scientists. Even the remaining scientific contacts with “friendly” countries can be dangerous, because one can be subjected to repression for imaginary espionage in favour of China.

The Russian scientific community is going through difficult times. Long-standing contacts with Western institutes and research centres have been severed, books are banned, and conferences are cancelled. Specialists in the field of humanities risk being labeled as “foreign agents” with a ban on teaching and publishing if they even minimally touch upon political issues and complex historical topics.

Last year, the Russian Academy of Sciences celebrated its 300 years anniversary in the conditions of loss of autonomy, when the management of academic institutes ended up under the jurisdiction of the bureaucracy, and the overall funding of fundamental science seriously lags behind scientifically advanced countries.

Increasingly more scientists are leaving the country. The number of young researchers has shrunk by 25% in ten years. Scientific schools are collapsing due to the lack of leading specialists and prospects. The state-introduced practice of coordinating any research involving foreign colleagues with the FSB (the Federal Security Service) only exacerbates the problem of the “brain drain”. All this leads to further lag and loss of prestige for Russian science.

The Yabloko Party expresses deep concern over the repression of scientists and the suppression of academic freedom.

We demand from the state the following:

– Immediately stop the politically motivated persecution of scientists and review cases initiated on trumped-up grounds.

– Cancel the practices of closed trials under articles on “high treason” and guarantee transparency of justice.

– Stop criminalising international scientific cooperation.

– Ensure real, not declarative, protection of academic freedom and the autonomy of scientific institutes.

Science cannot develop in an atmosphere of fear and suspicion. By persecuting scientists, the government is destroying the country’s main resource – intellect, knowledge, and innovative potential. Russian scientists must be confident that they can build their personal and professional future in their home country without fear of searches, arrests, and restrictions.

The Yabloko Party will continue to fight for the rights of researchers, for freedom of thought, creativity and speech, for the future of our children.

Nikolai Rybakov,

Yabloko Chairman