Ukraine war: Top science lab CERN might not renew contract with Russia, Belarus in 2024

GENEVA: The science lab, headquartered at the world's largest atom-smasher, says it plans to end all cooperation with Russia and Belarus owing to their role in the war in Ukraine.

The announcement came shortly after CERN's managing council made its decision on Friday.

CERN suspended cooperation with these countries in March, countries over the Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, including the passage of Russian troops through Belarus for the 24th February occupation of Ukraine.

"Yesterday's council's decision confirms the strong condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation aided by Belarus, while leaving the door ajar for continued scientific collaboration should conditions allow in the future," said CERN director-general Fabiola Gianotti in a statement.

CERN's cooperation agreements with Belarus and Russia are to expire in June and December 2024, respectively, following which they decided to terminate the contract.

CERN said that further action would be taken, if needed, after monitoring developments in Ukraine.

Such agreements are generally valid for five years and are usually renewed unless a formal notice is given from one or both parties.

Nearly 7% of its 18,000-odd researchers around the globe were connected to Russian institutions in one way or the other before the war happened. Subsequently, CERN had grappled with its response to the invasion.

The announcement comes as the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, CERN's Large Hadron Collider, is set to launch its third run this summer.

Russian scientists have been involved in planning multiple experiments.