{
  "id": 2089445,
  "title": "Jailed Russian mathematician Azat Miftakhov solves problem from prison, publishes it in French journal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/jailed-russian-mathematician-azat-miftakhov-solves-problem-from",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-20T06:53:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Insider",
    "slug": "the-insider",
    "url": "https://theins.press/en/news/296233"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "French mathematical journal Revue de la Filière Mathématiques (RMS) has published a paper by imprisoned Russian mathematician Azat Miftakhov, who worked out a problem while in prison. The article, titled \"La conjecture de Chui dans un cadre hilbertien,\" appeared in the journal's June-August 2026 issue and was the first original research piece in that edition. Miftakhov's support group announced the publication. The work was facilitated by French mathematician Bernard Randé, who presented Miftakhov with a modified version of an unsolved mathematical problem called Chui's conjecture. Miftakhov, a graduate student at Moscow State University, worked on the problem while in a Dimitrovgrad prison, where he had limited access to the internet, scientific resources, and other mathematicians. After four months, he solved the problem and Randé helped prepare the result for publication in French. The University of Pisa formally invited Miftakhov to present his findings at a seminar in April 2027. Miftakhov, who was initially arrested in 2019 for attacking a United Russia office, has faced multiple legal charges related to anarchist activities. He was released from prison in September 2023 but was detained again in a separate case of \"justifying terrorism\" based on an alleged conversation with another inmate, who later died in Ukraine. While in prison, Miftakhov reported severe torture at the Polar Owl penal colony, where he was transferred after completing his prison sentence.",
  "summary": "The French mathematical journal Revue de la filière mathématiques (RMS) has published a scientific paper by imprisoned Russian mathematician and anarchist Azat Miftakhov, who worked out the problem while being held in a prison in Dimitrovgrad. His article, “La conjecture de Chui dans un cadre hilbertien” (“Chui’s conjecture in a Hilbert space setting”) appeared in the journal’s June-August 2026…",
  "key_points": [
    "Imprisoned Russian mathematician Azat Miftakhov solved a problem while in prison.",
    "French journal RMS published Miftakhov's paper in June-August 2026 issue.",
    "Bernard Randé facilitated Miftakhov's work on Chui's conjecture."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The publication of Azat Miftakhov's research despite his imprisonment highlights the continued influence and productivity of mathematicians facing severe constraints, and underscores the role of collaboration in advancing knowledge.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}