Silenced by Dissent: How Two Top Onomasticians Were Voted Out of the Academy

 In May 2025, the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) held elections to appoint new academicians. Two prominent scholars - linguist Elena Berezovich of Ural Federal University and historian Fyodor Uspensky, director of the Vinogradov Institute of the Russian Language - were not elected. Both had previously signed an open letter in 2022 opposing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

During the election proceedings, academician Valery Kashin publicly criticized Berezovich and Uspensky for their earlier stance, questioning whether they had since changed their position. This intervention is believed to have influenced the voting outcome. Although both candidates received substantial support—351 votes for Berezovich and 352 for Uspensky - they fell short of the required majority of 392 votes out of 782.

Some RAS members suggest that the near-success of these candidates, despite political pressures, indicates a form of protest within the academy against external interference in scientific affairs.

Both Berezovich and Uspensky are distinguished figures in the field of onomastics. Elena Berezovich is renowned for her work in Russian toponymy and ethnolinguistics, serving as the editor-in-chief of the journal Problems of Onomastics and leading the Ural Toponymy Expedition. Her research has significantly contributed to the understanding of Russian dialects and place names.

Fyodor Uspensky specializes in historical onomastics, focusing on the naming conventions and power structures of medieval Russia. He has led interdisciplinary projects examining the language of authority in the Russian Middle Ages, exploring how names and titles reflect societal hierarchies and political dynamics. ncmu.hse.ru

The exclusion of these scholars from the RAS academicianship not only raises concerns about political influence in scientific institutions but also represents a significant loss for the field of onomastics, where both have made substantial contributions.