On October 16, 2009, at the meeting of the IOM's Dissertation Council the defence of the Habilitation dissertation by Dr V.M.Rybakov, a senior researcher at the Department of Far Eastern Studies, IOM RAS, entitled The Chinese Beaurocracy during T'ang Period, from 617 to 907 [Китайская бюрократия периода Тан (618–907 гг.)] .

Three official opponents such as Prof Dr B.G.Doronin, St Petersburg University, the Faculty of Oriental Studies, the Department of the History of Far Eastern Countries, Dr V.S.Kuznetsov, a chief researcher at the Center for the Study of Contemporary History of China, RAS, Moscow, and Dr V.A.Jacobson, IOM RAS, delivered their positive reviews.

During discussion Dr B.M.Novikov, St Petersburg University, Prof Dr O.G.Bolshakov, IOM RAS, Dr T.A.Pang, IOM RAS, Dr M.I.Vorobyova-Desyatovskaya, IOM RAS, Prof Dr V.D.Plakhov, Russian State Pedagogical University named after A. I. Gertsen, St Petersburg, delivered their opinions.

The Dissertation Council decided unanimously to petition the Russian Highest  Classification Committee for granting Dr V.M.Rybakov the Habilitation degree.