Russia Introduces FSB Control Over Science: What is Now Prohibited for Scientists.

According to inkorr.com: As of September 1, a law regulating FSB control over international scientific cooperation came into effect in Russia. This was reported by the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service.

All civilian research, including that involving foreign scientists or organizations, must now be approved by the security service.

Alarm in the Scientific Community

In the Russian scientific community, concerns are growing: any publication in a foreign journal may be deemed as 'transmission of information to a foreign state'. Researchers note an increase in self-censorship and paranoia in international contacts due to the uncertainty of the new rules. 'The law has effectively turned Russian science into yet another realm of total FSB control,' intelligence officials emphasized.

Exemptions from Control

At the same time, projects from the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Guard, Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Federal Medical and Biological Agency will no longer fall under the single database that will be under FSB control. Thus, only civilian research, including that of philologists, economists, medical professionals, and other scientists, is now under surveillance.

The new law on FSB control over international scientific relations in Russia raises concern in the scientific community and may limit the development of science in the country.

This law could significantly change not only the rules of the game for Russian researchers but also impact the overall climate within the scientific community. Given these changes, many scientists may refuse international cooperation, leading to the isolation of Russian science from global trends and potentially resulting in stagnation in scientific research.