The author examines historical roots of the current debates around the Higher Attestation Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles (the Russian acronym for it is VAK). Suggestions made by scientists and officials are mainly aimed at decentralization of the Russian system of scientific achievements attestation and at attachment of international character to this system. In fact, these suggestions exclude the necessity to retain the VAK in its present form. However the movement forward in this sphere is impossible without understanding of origins and causes that generated the current crisis of the thesis attestation business in Russia.