Institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences compile lists of scientists who have communicated with foreigners

The Ministry of Education and Science required the scientific organizations of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) to collect a name list of participants of all international scientific events for 2023. This is reported by “Vedomosti” with reference to sources in three institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Employees of the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences must provide “detailed information” about the participants of international events from both the Russian and foreign sides. In particular, it is necessary to specify the full official name of the event, the “contingent of event participants” and a family list of both institute employees who participated in the event and representatives of foreign states.

The letter from the Ministry of Education and Science states that the data is being collected “for the purpose of forming a plan for participation in international congress and exhibition events on the territory of the Russian Federation and foreign states in 2024 and preparing reference materials.”

An employee of one of the institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences told “Vedomosti” that the practice of annual reporting to the Ministry of Education and Science on the work of scientists has existed for many years. In particular, conference programs were attached to the reports, but similar family reports had never been prepared before.

Earlier it became known that the Ministry of Education and Science began collecting data from students and teachers who had contact with foreigners on November 9. By December 22, employees of institutes and universities must compile a list of participants of all international scientific events for 2023. In the report, it is necessary to indicate “detailed information about the contingent of participants”, the names of all participants, their status, as well as the countries from which the interlocutors came.

An employee of the Ministry of Education and Science told “We can explain” that the accounting of international events was carried out before, but not so meticulously. The source believes that the lists may be needed both to check for “improper contacts” and to impose restrictions on travel.