The Russian Academy of Sciences has elected Vladimir Fortov as the new president of the body. He will replace Yury Osipov, who has been heading the academy since 1991.
Fortov says that his main priority is the struggle against bureaucracy. According to him, members of the academy now spend 40 percent of their time on paperwork, which he describes as absolutely useless.
Vladimir Fortov is a space physicist. He has published more than 500 scientific articles and 30 books.
