Potemkin village of Russian science: The case of JINR

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the international cooperation and organizational integrity of JINR, revealing significant overestimations, suspended memberships, and questionable collaborations related to geopolitical issues and sanctions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of JINR's membership, collaboration accuracy, and political controversies, highlighting discrepancies and problematic associations in its international cooperation.

Findings

Only Mongolia remains fully active among original members.

Overestimation of collaborating institutes by 10-25%.

JINR's involvement with sanctioned and occupied territories raises concerns.

Abstract

This document reviews international cooperation of the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research (JINR). It shows that of the original 11 founding members of the JINR, only one -- Mongolia -- is still fully active within the organization. Out of 16 existing members four have their participation suspended. The review of the Topical Plan for JINR Research and International Cooperation 2024 shows that the number of 990 institutes collaborating with JINR is overestimated by at least 10% and probably closer to 25%. Countries with the highest number of participating institutes listed for 2024 are Russia, USA and Italy with 203, 77 and 49 institutes, respectively. JINR collaboration with impostor institutes on the occupied territories of Ukraine is presented as well as JINR publications which associate the occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia. JINR cooperation with organizations in Russia, which are under sanctions for their support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and contribution to the war effort, is also discussed.