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Russia’s Duma to have 2nd reading of bill on RAS reform

The bill in the first reading was passed yesterday

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 4 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s State Duma, the lower house of parliament will have the second reading of a bill on the reform of the Russian Academy of Sciences Friday, July 5.

This decision was taken Thursday at a meeting of the Council of the lower house, the Deputy Speaker of the house Igor Lebedev said.

The bill in the first reading was passed yesterday. According to the approved schedule, amendments must be submitted by 15:00 Moscow time today.

The bill requires a total reorganization of the Russian Academy of Sciences through a state-public organization "Russian Academy of Sciences", followed by the elimination of the existing Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Russian Academy of Education, Russian Academy of Architecture and Building Sciences and the Russian Academy of Arts upon government's decision will be transferred to the jurisdiction of the relevant federal authorities.

A special body will be set up to manage the assets of scientific institutes and state academies of sciences in the reorganization of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

All academies abolished the title of "corresponding members", all academicians and Corresponding Members currently in force are assigned to a single title of academician by personal statement, and a three-year moratorium on new elections is set.

"The sole executive authority" of the RAS will be its president. He will be elected for five years from among members of RAS, but for not more than two consecutive terms.

As appears from the financial and economic feasibility study of the bill, the amount of additional budget appropriations for the reform of the Russian Academy of Sciences will be more than 500 million rubles. These funds will also be allocated to increase the salaries of academics. It is stipulated that "RAS academicians should be paid academic scholarship in the amount established by the Government of the Russian Federation for life from the moment of awarding the title of academician."

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