Free University in Moscow has to close down
One of Russia’s last independent universities is now blacklisted by the Kremlin. For security reasons, the administration is ceasing all its work in Russia.
Five scientists, who previously lost their jobs for their political beliefs, founded Moscow Free University in 2020. The aim was to conduct independent research and provide online education. There was no building of its own. The institution reportedly had hundreds of teachers and thousands of students, although there are no official counts.
But in the eyes of the Kremlin, the university is “undesirable” and “extremist”. Students would be taught to “hate Russia” and university staff would “adhere to and impose an ultra-liberal model of European democracy”.
Academic freedom
On its site, the university writes that independent education is not a crime and that blacklisting is unconstitutional. Nevertheless, all activities are suspended for the safety of students and teachers. The administration is considering operating from abroad.
Mathematician Andronik Anthonyunov, a lecturer at the university and president of the last independent university union, earlier explained how academic freedom in Russia has come under increasing pressure since the invasion of Ukraine early last year. (HOP, PvT)
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