Mousetrap

Free cheese

Somewhere at the end of this winter, the directors of 15 institutes signed the “ Agreement on partnership in the field of creating, modernizing and using unique mega-class research plants ”.

What are these institutes? First of all, the Kurchatov Institute itself, together with the already absorbed ITEF, PIIAF and IFVE. Further - Trinity (Troitsk), the Institute of Crystallography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Problems of Laser and Information Technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Nizhny Novgorod), the Institute of Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Research Institute of Physical Problems (not to be confused with physical problems of the Kapitsa), the Research Institute of Electrophysical equipment, the United Institute of Nuclear Research (Dubna), special astrophysical laboratories RAS (North Caucasus), Institute of Nuclear Physics. Budker RAS (Novosibirsk). So, six academic institutions (of which are four very “delicious”, who did not go to the sphere of Kovalchuk’s influence) plus a huge Dubna plus Rosatom Trinity in the person of their directors gathered at a site prepared by Kovalchuk. What for?

As always, for the sake of money - not in your own pocket, of course, but for the construction of large installations or the modernization of existing ones, which really really need this. Did not understand who they join the game? Did you know anything about the story with ITEF? Have you heard Kiriyenko’s revelations about a powerful fist of nuclear-physical institutions? Didn't you understand what would have to be paid with their independence? They probably understood, but still the cheese seemed free, and it was thought that you could always slip away.

The partnership agreement itself looked harmless - Articles 4 and 5 seemed to remove all fears. Apparently, no one paid attention to Article 2, where the desire for further development was declared "including by creating a new organizational and legal structure." It seems incredible that the directors, among whom there are definitely very experienced administrators, do not understand that they themselves are trapped. Or maybe one of them, understanding everything, was not averse to leaving the vassals to the rich feudal baron? This is worth asking these directors, but not now.

This agreement was not advertised, but many knew about it, and rumors went. In a very indefinite form, rumors reached the author of these lines, therefore, he is also responsible for the fact that the alarm was not raised on time.

The cover imperceptibly sets in motion

At the end of April or in May, shortly before the re -election of the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the former President Yu. Osipov, together with M. Kovalchuk, sign a letter to Putin , where they ask to give the “structure” of the partnership of institutions (who do not suspect that they are a structure) a certain formal status. What kind of status is not said, but you can guess about it, knowing the trajectory of M. Kovalchuk and his appetite. Maybe not the status to immediately eat, like an ITEF, but a certain intermediate, where Kovalchuk will carry out general management, steer streams and take academy walkers.

Why Osipov made this farewell gift of the Academy of Sciences, led by him for more than 20 years? How to cotton the door due to the fact that they did not let the vapor yet? Or was the proposal made in a form that does not allow failure? Or was it just absolutely anyway?

Who knew that such an agreement was signed? Academician Valery Rubakov, one of the leaders of resistance to the “reform” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that he learned about the letter of Osipov and Kovalchuk only now, when the directors launched Putin's order.

Save yourself with an immediate flight!

So, Putin ordered to work out the issue of the legal status of “partnership”. The directors finally realized where it was going and worried. They say that there is no new legal status. They propose to create an association of independent institutions with a delegated consultation council at the head. It seems that it is not everything is so serious that you can rest and slow down the lowered cover. Meanwhile, evolution gave living creatures, even much less developed than a person, completely adequate in this situation by the reflex of an immediate flight. This should be done.

Namely, the easiest and most effective exit from this situation is an immediate exit from the partnership agreement unilaterally. This still does not guarantee anything, but at the moment, the authorities are not until they chase the scattering institutions for the sake of some friend's brother. However, the problem here is that in decades, the director first, then the other stagnation lost the reaction. Like, wait, not yet evening, do not aggravate ...

So, the directors need to help. Scientific teams, as the experience of itifes shows, will have to pay more than them. Therefore, it is urgent to collect scientific advice and accept the requirement for directors to immediately refuse to participate in partnership. Although the scientific council is just an advisory body, it will greatly push and, most importantly, give directors a good argument: having such a decision of the academic council in your pocket, it is easier to communicate with officials. This must be done right now, despite vacation. No wonder the deadline on September 1 was set at the Putin’s assignment.

Boris Stern