Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Andrey Rostovtsev was fired from the Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences for absenteeism, reports RTVI with reference to the order dated May 15. The scientist had been working in the Laboratory of Quantum Physics and Information since 2014, however, according to him, he stopped receiving a salary a year ago.
The dismissal order for Rostovtsev is dated May 15. The basis for the dismissal was a memo also dated May 15. However, the dismissal date in the order is indicated as February 18.
«From the very beginning, I had no obligation to come to work. Until recently, my articles were published with the affiliation of the Institute. First, they demand an explanation for why I was absent from the workplace, of course, I did not write any explanation, after which they fire me», — said Rostovtsev.
In 2013, Rostovtsev, together with journalist Sergey Parkhomenko*, bioinformatician Mikhail Gelfand, and physicist Andrey Zayakin founded the Free Network Community «Dissernet», which is engaged in exposing fake dissertations.
Previously, the new management of the institute parted ways with bioinformatician Mikhail Gelfand, but in November, the Tushinsky Court of Moscow declared the dismissal illegal.
Rostovtsev has the highest Hirsch index (citation index) among the employees of the Institute. In second place — Mikhail Gelfand.
* Recognized as a «foreign agent» in Russia.