The Nikitsky Botanical Garden – National Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences was established in 1812 and is one of the oldest scientific institutions in Russia. The prominent 19th-century biologist Christian Christianovich Steven was the founder of the Garden. In 1962, the Nikitsky Botanical Garden was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor of the USSR.

Since March 2014, Yuri Vladimirovich Plugatar has served as Director of the Garden. He is a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, a member of the Presidential Council for Science and Education, an honored worker of science and technology of the Republic of Crimea, and Head of the Department of the RAS for cooperation with scientific institutions of Crimea and Sevastopol.