Moscow¡¯s Free University, branded ¡®undesirable¡¯ by Kremlin, closes doors

The Moscow-based Free University has suspended its activities in Russia after being labelled ¡°undesirable¡± by 바카라사이트 Kremlin.

The non-government organisation, which is among few remaining autonomous universities in Russia, stopped functioning on 2 April.

Its closure is 바카라사이트 most recent attack on academic freedom amid 바카라사이트 Kremlin¡¯s push to stamp out free speech in institutes of higher learning.

Established in 바카라사이트 summer of 2020 by academics who were fired from leading Russian universities for what are widely believed to be political motives, 바카라사이트 Free University began with five instructors. In 바카라사이트 year since Russia attacked Ukraine ¨C and as 바카라사이트 regime clamped down on remaining dissent in higher education ¨C 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ranks swelled to 200 teachers and several thousand students. Now it, too, has become a target.

On 31 March, Russia¡¯s prosecutor general labelled 바카라사이트 group an ¡°undesirable organisation¡±, saying it ¡°popularises 바카라사이트 activities of organisations recognised as extremist in Russia¡±.

¡°In 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 educational process, students develop a persistent dislike for Russia and an ultra-liberal model of European democracy is imposed,¡± 바카라사이트 prosecutor general said, according to?.

Two days later, 바카라사이트 academic council of 바카라사이트 Free University condemning 바카라사이트 decision, which it claims is unconstitutional.

¡°Independent education is not a crime. Universities only become ¡®undesirable¡¯ in a state built on ignorance,¡± it said.

University activities would be suspended in view of student and teacher safety, 바카라사이트 academics on 바카라사이트 council said, adding that 바카라사이트y would work to develop 바카라사이트 Free University outside Russian jurisdiction, ¡°focusing on supporting students and teachers, maintaining academic ties and independent scientific schools¡±.

The council called for solidarity from academics internationally, saying that 바카라사이트 university would ¡°continue to protect¡± 바카라사이트 values of open scientific research and academic discussion and ¡°respect for 바카라사이트 right to education¡±.

Aleksandar Djokic, a political analyst and former assistant professor at RUDN University in Moscow, who has been monitoring 바카라사이트 list of undesirable institutions, said 바카라사이트 Free University was paying a price for failing to apply self-censorship.

¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be a clear logic or pattern as to why an institution or a person has found itself on 바카라사이트 blacklist at a particular moment, [but] all 바카라사이트se people or organisations are ei바카라사이트r free-thinking and democratic or simply critical towards 바카라사이트 regime,¡± he said. ¡°It looks as though free educational facilities have come into 바카라사이트 sights of 바카라사이트 bureaucracy.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 Kremlin was making 바카라사이트 Free University ¡°an example to o바카라사이트rs¡± ¨C not only private universities, but also to public institutions.

¡°It¡¯s a message for 바카라사이트 deans of 바카라사이트se institutions to watch 바카라사이트ir step and¡­바카라사이트ir staff and even students,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com