Towards Reforming and Defining the Legal Status of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Introduction. The article analyzes the issues related to the preparation and results of the reform of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and also substantiates the need to return the RAS to the legal status of the 'State Academy of Sciences'. Methods. In the process of work, the general scientific method of analysis, the comparative legal method, as well as the system-structural and functional methods were used to identify the features of the reform scenarios and determine the legal status of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Results and Discussion. Analysis and polemics in the article are conducted in the following main areas: the available possible scenarios of the reform, the legal status of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the establishment of the Russian Science Foundation, the rejuvenation of the RAS, increasing the level of citation of scientific works of Russian scientists. Conclusion. Conclusions are made about the need and possibility of improving the foundations of Russian legislation on science in the part relating to the Russian Academy of Sciences.