Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired four government officials who earlier this month were elected members of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Putin on November 28 published announcements of the dismissals of Vasily Khristoforov, head of the documents and archives section of the Federal Security Service (FSB); Konstantin Kotenko, head of the medical service of the presidential administration; Aleksandr Fisun, head of the medical service of the Defense Ministry; and Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandr Savenkov.
At a meeting of the government’s Council on Science and Education on November 23, Putin said that he would dismiss any government official who accepted election to the Academy of Sciences, a total of 14 officials.
Putin said that the officials had all been told in writing in December 2015 that they would be dismissed from government service if they were elected to the academy.
He said it was not possible for officials to carry out their government duties and academic responsibilities simultaneously.