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On September 26, Director of the Nizhny Novgorod Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Sergeyev won the election for President of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Sergeyev, first of all, I would like to congratulate you on your convincing victory in the election for President of the Russian Academy of Sciences. You received over 70 percent of votes in the second round. This means that the academic community trusts you and hopes that, as the leader of the academy, you will continue to strengthen and develop it, and raise its prestige, role and significance in the country’s affairs. Of course, I hope this is what happens.

On that note, I would like to request that you give due attention to the implementation of the strategy that was adopted some time ago. For this, it will certainly be necessary to establish working relationships, very good relationships with the state authorities at various levels, including the Government and the Executive Office. It will certainly be necessary to build a relationship with the Federal Agency for Scientific Organisations. I hope that together we will be able to think about how to organise this work. If you consider it necessary, we can and should think about improving the regulatory framework to guarantee that the academy continues to develop as the leading organisation in the sphere of science.

And when I mentioned the strategy, if you recall, we agreed that a relevant council would be created for each area of focus. I think it would be reasonable to put this work on a practical footing, to create a coordinating body led by you and possibly involving various ministries and departments, an interdepartmental body headed by the President of the Academy of Sciences that would coordinate the work of these councils in key areas related to promoting science.

Alexander Sergeyev: Mr President, first of all, it is very important for me, and I think it is very important for the academy that you took the time to meet with me the day after the election.

I want to say that the election was held in a completely democratic atmosphere, after we met on June 22, when you told all the candidates that the election should be held. Everyone heard you loud and clear. Yes, a new federal law was adopted, and everyone passed through this filter. But we understand that the Academy of Sciences is a state institution, so it is clear that such an agreement is necessary.

When yesterday I spoke to the academy as the newly elected president, I said that it is very good that the election was absolutely democratic. It is also very important that the government also acted very democratically during the entire election campaign. So there is a basis for a consensus that will allow us to cooperate.

Thank you very much for finding an opportunity to receive me today.

I have not been confirmed as president yet by you, but I hope that I will be confirmed.

Vladimir Putin: You are already confirmed. Here is the Executive Order I have just signed. I want to wish you good luck.

Alexander Sergeyev: Thank you very much. It is very important.

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