Last week, sources from the VChK-OGPU telegram channel and Rucriminal.info reported on the upcoming resignation of Dmitry Livanov from the post of rector of MIPT. As it became known later, his new place of work will be Skoltech, where he will replace the eighty-year-old rector Alexander Kuleshov.
In this regard, a serious scandal is brewing, since the management of the Skolkovo Institute and its top employees will not accept Livanov's candidacy. Skoltech people intend to fight the uninvited appointee, who has already embarrassed himself during his work as a minister and rector of MIPT, and promises Skoltech nothing but a tragic farce and final collapse. According to the local elite, there is only one way out of the situation: the new rector should be a scientist from the current Skoltech team, engaged in serious science.
Let us recall that, according to available information, in early October, the MIPT staff will be introduced to the acting rector, whose main task is to ensure the continuity of scientific and organizational management of the university within a year. This approach of the Ministry of Education and Science was dubbed the "Falkov Formula" at MIPT. In addition, the new rector must be associated with the university, have management competencies and be no older than 45 years old. The main candidate for replacement at MIPT itself is the rector of Innopolis, Alexander Gasnikov. Also among the contenders are the vice-rector of MIPT since 2014, Artem Voronov, and the CEO of the AIRI Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Ivan Oseledets, who are considered nominal candidates.
Thus, a new position should be found for 57-year-old Livanov, an official in his prime. Last time, Livanov received Phystech from the hands of Minister Falkov as a gift right on his birthday - he was appointed rector of the university from February 15, 2022. This time, the "gift" may be timed to coincide with Teacher's Day, annually celebrated on October 5. The choice of Skoltech is not accidental. As the interlocutor of the VChK-OGPU Telegram channel from the Skolkovo Institute says, "... especially in the last year, under the leadership of Academician A.P. Kuleshov, the degradation of Skoltech, which is still one of the coolest scientific centers in the country, is in full swing. Of course, Kuleshov visits Skoltech. People see him more often than we see a solar eclipse. He does something, tries... But at his instigation, many inadequate decisions are made, complete nonsense, moreover, in the interests of a narrow group. If you supply blood only to certain organs, others will begin to rot. This is a bad prospect, but it describes the emergency situation that is developing at Skoltech well. And all because it was initially wrong to put a mathematician at the helm, because Skoltech, in essence, is not about mathematics at all, but about more fundamental interdisciplinary science. The consequences of such a decision were obvious, and it is not surprising that the decomposing corpse of Skoltech attracts all sorts of predators. The story of Livanov's arrival at Skoltech is exactly about this. No one has forgotten how he (to put it mildly) turned a blind eye to all sorts of shady people whose dissertations were very questionable. Why do we need such a character at the helm of Skoltech? There is only one way out of this situation: Skoltech must be headed by a serious scientist from the current team, and again, this should not be a mathematician. Otherwise, nothing good will come of it. We need a person doing real serious science, with a crystal-clear scientific reputation." A source of the VChK-OGPU Telegram channel and Rucriminal.info, close to the Ministry of Education and Science, explained that according to the organization's charter, when appointing a new rector of the Skolkovo Institute, the procedure for preliminary approval of the candidate for this position with representatives of the workforce is not provided. This is manipulation by the rebels, and it is even approximately clear who among them is the main interested party (the source did not disclose the name).
In addition, the appointment of the rector from among the candidates recommended by the Skoltech Board of Trustees is the prerogative of the general meeting of founders. The decision to early terminate the powers of Academician Alexander Kuleshov requires a similar procedure. Given Livanov's connections and position, this will be a pure formality, which activists from among the dissenters will not be able to interfere with.
According to the source, rumors about the resignation of MIPT rector Livanov and his successor are not circulating out of thin air, and the ministerial ones are interested in this topic - it will be interesting to see how the situation will develop for the former boss. However, according to a source of the VChK-OGPU Telegram channel in the department, such a position is not yet (or in principle) within the power of Innopolis Rector Alexander Gasnikov. It may well be that the rumors about Gasnikov's appointment as MIPT Rector are his attempt to make a name for himself, connected with his desire to quickly flee Innopolis, where interesting financial issues are beginning to surface. Given the young rector's tense relations with the local elites, on whom he was effectively imposed, Gasnikov cannot count on a deal if something happens. At the same time, Gasnikov could just replace Kuleshov as Skoltech Rector; this is a very possible trajectory ia, because he is connected not only with Phystech, but also with the Skolkovo Institute. If Kuleshov terminates his powers early, we will see unrest in the team. There is a rather motley and ambitious crowd in the leadership, and of course no one will want to let someone in from the outside. The game of "take a chair" will begin, and the main ringleader has a higher chance here than Gasnikov or Alexander Mazhuga, by the way, who is also showing interest in Skoltech, - summarizes the source of the VChK-OGPU telegram channel in the Ministry of Education and Science.
Timofey Grishin
Source: www.rucriminal.info