---
title: "Director of Russian virology research centre fired for corruption"
description: "CBRNe World provides those tasked with defending against CBRN and IED threats with the essential practical, scientific and political information. Access the current and previous issues of the magazine by registering as a member."
url: "https://cbrneworld.com/news/subscribers/director-of-russian-virology-research-centre-fired-for-corruption"
date: "2026-07-30T21:12:27+00:00"
language: "en-GB"
---

#  Director of Russian virology research centre fired for corruption

 Written by Gwyn Winfield on 17 May 2023.

\[Offered without comment\]

Interfax reported that the head of Russia's Vektor Research Centre for Virology and Biotechnology has been dismissed following corruption allegations. State consumer rights and public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said on 17 May that Rinat Maksyutov had been fired for violating the law "on countering corruption", Interfax news agency reported. Rospotrebnadzor also said that a conflict of interest had been revealed concerning his work at the centre.

Maksyutov had headed Vektor since 2003, Interfax noted. Vektor, which is located in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, was responsible for the development of EpiVacCorona, Russia's second coronavirus vaccine after Sputnik V. Founded in 1974, the centre is known to have played a prominent role in the Soviet Union's biological warfare programme.

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