On April 7, 2026, in Moscow, CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev participated in a meeting of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) dedicated to the topic “Space as a Source of Scientific Knowledge, Progress and Cooperation”.
Addressing those gathered, the CIS Secretary-General noted that the Commonwealth of Independent States highly values the role of the Russian Academy of Sciences as a connecting link between scientific communities in deepening integration processes in the scientific sphere of the CIS countries, improving its legal and regulatory framework, and strengthening international cooperation in the scientific field.
Sergey Lebedev also emphasized the effective chairmanship of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the CIS Council for Cooperation in Fundamental Science in 2025 and awarded a Certificate of Honor of the CIS Executive Committee to Co-Chairman of the Council for Cooperation in Fundamental Science of the CIS Member States, RAS Vice-President Vladislav Panchenko, for his great personal contribution to strengthening and developing cooperation in the field of fundamental science among the Commonwealth member states.
A Letter of Gratitude from the CIS Secretary-General was presented to the Head of the RAS International Cooperation Department Mikhail Seryogin for his diligent work during the period of the RAS chairmanship in the CIS Council for Cooperation in Fundamental Science and for his contribution to the development of cooperation among the CIS member states in the scientific sphere.
Following the meeting, a discussion took place between Sergey Lebedev and Vladislav Panchenko. The parties discussed issues of mutual interest, including the work of the CIS Council for Cooperation in Fundamental Science.
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During the Russian chairmanship of the Council in 2025, new forward-looking working methods were introduced, and strategic areas of interaction among the Commonwealth countries in the field of fundamental research were intensified.
Furthermore, the Russian Academy of Sciences prepared important draft documents in the scientific sphere: the Concept for the Development of Fundamental Science in the CIS and the Regulations on the CIS Basic Organization for Biomedical and Socio-Psychological Support of Humans in Stressful and Extreme Conditions, including Space Conditions. These were approved at the Council meeting on November 19, 2025, and submitted for consideration to the highest bodies of the Commonwealth.
Currently, expert review of these draft documents, which are highly relevant for the Commonwealth states, is underway.