Doktor nauk (Doctor of Sciences): The highest academic degree
conferred upon persons already holding the academic degree of kandidat nauk (PhD)
after they have defended their doctoral dissertations in public and have gained
recognition of the fact that their dissertations represent original and
outstanding contributions to science. The degree of doktor
nauk (Doctor of Sciences) is awarded by the
decision of VAK Rossii (the Highest
Qualification Committee of Russia) upon the recommendation of the Dissertation
Council of the higher education institution concerned.