Protection on a scientific council

"Club of July 1", uniting several dozen academicians and corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, turned to the head of the Ministry of Justice Alexander Konovalov with a protest against the plans of the department to include in the register of "foreign agents" the Dmitry Zimin Foundation "Dynastia", engaged in the financing of fundamental research. An open letter to Konovalov is published on the website of the public control commission.

The "dynasty" is known in Russia as the only remaining private charity fund that provides significant support to science and education in our country, the letter says. - In this capacity, he provides invaluable assistance to the state. "

The idea to include the “dynasty” in the register of “agents”, according to the signatories, is “absurd, since the activities of the fund are completely open and well -known, it has nothing to do with the defense of the interests of foreign states and is funded by private means of D. B. Zimin, even those in foreign accounts.”

“Announcement of the Dynasty Foundation” with a foreign agent with the ensuing legal and political consequences will cause a serious blow to Russian scientists and sharply complicate their work to strengthen the competitiveness and prestige of Russian science at the world level, ”scientists warned.

Dmitry Zimin is the founder of Vimpelcom. The Dynasty Foundation formed a businessman in 2002. Since 2003, this structure has been a member of the forum of donors - the largest association of Russian and foreign grantors. According to Vedomosti, in 2013 the budget of the program and projects of the fund amounted to 328 million rubles, in 2014 - 352 million, and this year should amount to 435 million rubles.

Meanwhile, on the Wednesday of the representatives of the "dynasty" they called to the Ministry of Justice for drawing up the protocol under Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (the work of NPO - "Agent" without appropriate registration).

The Club July 1 was formed by academicians and member science of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who in 2013 did not accept the reform of the State Academies of Sciences and announced their readiness not to join the new academy.

The club’s letter is not the only appeal in support of the "dynasty". The network published a number of individual and group statements with protest against plans to include the fund in the register of "agents".