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 the Kremlin.

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

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

Established in the summer of 2020 by academics who were fired from leading Russian universities for what are widely believed to be political motives, the Free University began with five instructors. In the year since Russia attacked Ukraine – and as the regime clamped down on remaining dissent in higher education – the 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 the group an “undesirable organisation”, saying it “popularises the activities of organisations recognised as extremist in Russia”.

“In the course of the educational process, students develop a persistent dislike for Russia and an ultra-liberal model of European democracy is imposed,” the prosecutor general said, according to media reports.

Two days later, the academic council of the Free University issued a statement condemning the 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, the academics on the council said, adding that they would work to develop the 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 the university would “continue to protect” the values of open scientific research and academic discussion and “respect for the right to education”.

Aleksandar Djokic, a political analyst and former assistant professor at RUDN University in Moscow, who has been monitoring the list of undesirable institutions, said the 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 the blacklist at a particular moment, [but] all these people or organisations are either free-thinking and democratic or simply critical towards the regime,” he said. “It looks as though free educational facilities have come into the sights of the bureaucracy.”

He added that the Kremlin was making the Free University “an example to others” – not only private universities, but also to public institutions.

“It’s a message for the deans of these institutions to watch their step and…their staff and even students,” he said.

pola.lem@timeshighereducation.com