Scientists Flee Russia Amid Heavy State Control and Pseudoscience Growth

Increasing numbers of scientists are leaving Russia, driven by government repression and growing state control over scientific fields, according to "Novaya Gazeta Europe." Since February 2022, an estimated 2,500 researchers have departed, a figure believed to be conservative. This exodus is compounded by a climate of fear and the prioritization of pseudoscientific projects, such as President Putin’s promotion of initiatives like “smart underwear” that monitor health using nanofibers.

On February 8, 2025, the Russian Academy of Sciences organized a nationwide event entitled “Science in the Name of Victory,” celebrating a propaganda initiative aimed at glorifying Soviet scientific achievements linked to World War II. Amid heavy censorship, pseudo-scientific theories have influenced not only public perception but also legislative actions, as seen in the controversial sentencing of artists accused of promoting “destructive ideologies.”

Experts warn that these developments threaten to dismantle legitimate scientific inquiry in Russia, as state authorities increasingly conflate academic dissent with treason. Even scientists complying with new regulations often face potential imprisonment, further eroding the integrity of Russia's scientific community.