Official Telegram channel of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Photo: Alexei Arbatov / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Alexei Arbatov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a member of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko party, commented on Alexander Sergeyev’s (the current head of the Russian Academy of Sciences) withdrawal of his candidacy during elections on the post of President of the Russian Academy of Sciences due to pressure.

“I feel very sorry for the two remaining candidates for the post of President of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Academician Markovich and Academician Krasnikov. After all, the decision that was made by the current President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergeyev, as it was explained, – under external pressure – suggests that those who exerted this pressure do rate high these candidates. Apparently, they thought that these two candidates were neither well-known, nor have enough weight so that to be elected by secret ballot of the General Assembly of the Russian Academy of Sciences in an honest, open and competitive struggle.

And the second thing, which, certainly, also upsets me: the current situation with the election of the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences demonstrates the attitude towards the General Assembly of the Academy of Sciences. Those who initiated this process did not trust the General Assembly that it would be able to choose from three or even four candidates the most worthy scientist, organiser of science and political figure who would head the Academy of Sciences for the next five years.”

It should be noted that today, on 20 September, the General Assembly of the Russian Academy of Sciences should elect a new President. Yesterday, on the first day of the General Assembly, the incumbent President Alexander Sergeyev said that “the election campaign is taking place in unprecedented conditions”. According to the academician, many members of the Russian Academy of Sciences were subjected to psychological and even external administrative pressure, especially after publicly declaring their stance. “This has never happened before, at least in the recent history of the Russian Academy of Sciences,” Alexander Sergeyev stated and announced that he was withdrawing his candidacy from the election on the post of the head of the Academy.

ALEXEI ARBATOV

is a member of the Federal Political Committee of Yabloko. Head of the Centre for International Security of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Doctor of Historical Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences