Hungarian Nobel laureate Ferenc Krausz has resigned his membership in the Russian Academy of Sciences for reasons of conscience. He writes that he greatly values the international exchange of ideas, so he thoroughly considered this step – but seeing that the academy has not spoken out against Russia's war crimes against Ukraine, he could no longer reconcile his membership with his conscience.
“As a member of the global scientific community, I consider it essential to take a stand against acts that violate international law and human rights. I am deeply disturbed by the silence of the Russian Academy of Sciences on this matter. It violates the principles of academic integrity and ethical responsibility that scientific institutions should uphold,” the physicist said in his statement.
He adds that many institutions across the international scientific scene have already suspended cooperation with the Russian Academy of Sciences. Krausz asks the academy to,
"reconsider its position and use its influential voice to advocate for peace, respect for international law and the protection of human rights. Science should be a force for progress and understanding, not complicit in acts that cause suffering and destruction.”
Ferenc Krausz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in October 2023, and he donated the prize money to the association called Science4People. The objective of the association is to bring together people from the scientific community to jointly help people who are suffering from the Russian-Ukrainian war.
In March this year, Krausz spent two days in Ukraine in collaboration with the association, during which time he and French physicist Serge Haroche gave scientific lectures in underground bunkers. They took along an appeal, already signed by 131 Nobel laureates from around the world, which calls for the frozen Russian assets to be used to help rebuild Ukraine and support the victims of the war.
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