The European Organization for Nuclear Research commonly known as CERN will maintain collaboration with Russian scientists who are not affiliated with scientific institutions inside the Russian Federation. This stance was conveyed by a CERN official spokesperson, emphasizing that the suspension pertains to certain institutional partners rather than to every Russian researcher connected to CERN. The clarification points to ongoing, noninstitutional ties with scientists who are linked to CERN under different arrangements, suggesting that individual researchers can continue their work under other frameworks while the broader institutional relationship is being reexamined.
According to the spokesperson, relations with these researchers will persist even as the wider policy landscape shifts. The decision to pause cooperation with specific Russian institutions is understood to be a response to developments in Ukraine, actions that prompted CERN to reevaluate its observer status and its formal collaboration with those particular entities in March of the previous year.
As of the end of November, the organization has announced a temporary halt to cooperation with roughly five hundred experts associated with Russian institutions. CERN’s leadership has begun the process of identifying and recruiting qualified scientists to continue the work related to major projects, including the Large Hadron Collider, by integrating replacements for the Russian participants where necessary. This move is described as a strategic step to preserve the momentum of ongoing experiments while aligning with broader international considerations.
Pavel Logachev, a prominent figure in the scientific community and the director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics at the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk, commented on the situation by noting the belief that scientific work should not be subject to political pressures. He underscored that the scientific community does not welcome political entanglements and that the suspension affects collaboration on key projects. The sentiment he shared reflects a wider concern among researchers about maintaining openness and continuity in scientific inquiry despite geopolitical tensions.
Earlier, scientists explained that the suspension had a direct impact on the workflow surrounding the hadron collider project, with a slowdown in several Russians’ contributions to the research program. The shift is part of broader measures undertaken by CERN in response to the evolving international climate, aiming to balance scientific collaboration with geopolitical realities. The Russian Academy of Sciences had already indicated that the decision to limit joint activities with CERN would have consequences for scientific development, highlighting the interconnected nature of international research networks and the potential ripple effects across related disciplines.
From a strategic standpoint, CERN has reiterated its intention to keep communication lines open with Russian researchers operating outside the restricted channels, reinforcing the principle that scientific advancement should not be entirely obstructed by institutional or national boundaries. The ongoing dialogues focus on preserving knowledge transfer, access to data, and participation in experiments where permissible, while ensuring compliance with the institution’s current policies and international obligations. In this environment, the organization continues to evaluate the balance between security concerns and the benefits of international scientific collaboration, with updates anticipated as evolving conditions dictate at the policy level. The situation remains a dynamic reflection of how large research infrastructures navigate geopolitical shifts while striving to sustain progress in fundamental physics. Attribution: CERN statements and statements from the Russian scientific community are acknowledged to reflect positions held by involved parties at this moment in time.