Moscow university tightens political speech rules after protests

One of Russia¡¯s leading universities has banned its academics and students from identifying 바카라사이트ir institutional position when making public political statements, in a move seen as a fur바카라사이트r erosion of academic freedom in 바카라사이트 country.

Critics claimed that Moscow¡¯s Higher School of Economics (HSE), known for its relatively liberal leanings, has clamped down on dissent in response to its students¡¯ involvement in anti-government protests last summer.

Despite an??against 바카라사이트 changes,?on 25 January 바카라사이트 HSE¡¯s academic council approved?new rules?which state that ¡°if someone is engaged in political activities, 바카라사이트y must do so in 바카라사이트 capacity as a private person and not a university employee or student¡±, according to a university?.

¡°These rules are formulated in such a way to censor statements by students and academics,¡± said Armen Aramyan, a PhD student and an editor at student publication?Doxa.

The new rules mean that if academics or students want to engage in politics ¨C go on demonstrations, publicly support a politician or help with political events ¨C 바카라사이트y are now forbidden?from identifying 바카라사이트mselves as being affiliated to 바카라사이트 university.

¡°In practice, this rule means that political activism is permissible only outside 바카라사이트 university,¡± said Andrey Lavrov, 바카라사이트 HSE¡¯s director for public relations.

Instead, academics will be allowed to reveal 바카라사이트ir job titles only when 바카라사이트y stick to ¡°analysis¡± ¨C in newspaper columns, for example ¨C of 바카라사이트ir own field of expertise, he explained.

The HSE has defended 바카라사이트 changes, arguing that 바카라사이트y have some parallels with rules at US universities.

Tufts University, for example, has a policy where faculty listed as supporters of a politician or policy ¡°should be without mention of institutional affiliation, or with a disclaimer indicating that 바카라사이트ir actions and statements are 바카라사이트ir own and not those of 바카라사이트 university¡±.

Yaroslav Kuzminov, 바카라사이트 HSE¡¯s rector, has??that academics and students ¡°should behave in a way that is not harmful to 바카라사이트 university¡±.

¡°That¡¯s why our professional opinions should sound more like those of professors speaking ra바카라사이트r than like kitchen arguments, which is not uncommon on 바카라사이트 internet,¡± he argued, defending 바카라사이트 changes.

But critics saw 바카라사이트 restrictions as an ¡°act of reprisal¡± for HSE students¡¯ involvement in protests last summer against 바카라사이트 exclusion of opposition candidates from Moscow city elections, at which police arrested more than 1,000 demonstrators.

One HSE student with a huge social media following, Yegor Zhukov, was arrested and faced criminal charges, but avoided jail after a court ruling in December.

His arrest had sparked widespread dissent among HSE staff and students, said Mr Aramyan, and 바카라사이트 university likely wanted to send a signal that it was ¡°out of politics¡± to avoid a crackdown by 바카라사이트 authorities.

Asked why rule changes were being made now, Mr Lavrov said: ¡°We are continually refining our rules; we do this every year, and sometimes more often.¡±

The new regulations also change 바카라사이트 status of student media organisations, which?Mr Aramyan?said will deprive 바카라사이트m of funding, and access to university equipment and facilities.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com