moscow

The flight of scientists from Russia shows no signs of slowing down. The Ministry of Science and Technology released figures last week showing that 15,000 scientists have left the country during the past five to seven years.

The emigrants represent five per cent of Russia's 300,000 scientists. Most went to the United States, with a minority heading for Israel, escaping continued political instability, a crisis over unpaid salaries, and the falling value of the ruble.

The average monthly salary of a scientist in Russia is 1,000 rubles (US$60). Although this is a 60 per cent increase from 1997, this gain has been wiped out by the devaluation of the ruble in August to 17 rubles per US dollar. Before devaluation, one US dollar was worth 6.35 rubles.

Despite repeated promises, the prospects that salaries will be paid on time remain poor. Initial hopes that the new prime minister, Yevgeny Primakov, himself a fellow of the Russian Academy of Sciences, would resolve the crisis have quickly faded. Although Primakov has promised to find a solution, he is expected to give greater priority to the plight of miners and teachers, who face a similar crisis.

Primakov has allowed the science and technology portfolio — including virtually all research policy — to remain with Vladimir Bulgak, the deputy prime minister, who was science minister under the previous government.

But Bulgak's ability to lobby for scientists will be limited. He is in overall charge of 18 government agencies and departments including the ministries of transport, fuel and energy, and atomic energy.

In a recent speech, Yuri Luzhkov, the politically ambitious mayor of Moscow, called on Bulgak to “return the lost valuables” to Russian science if impending catastrophe was to be avoided. Luzhkov said that 15 to 20 years are needed for Russia's science to reach the level of developed countries — and then only if financing reaches “adequate” levels.