MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov denied the dismissal of Professor Andrei Zubov, who had previously published an article criticizing Russia’s position towards Ukraine. reports this Interfax .

According to Torkunov, Zubov continues to work at the university, and no notice of his dismissal has been received from the administration.

“Naturally, many do not share the position that he expressed, and I, as a historian, do not share it either. But all procedures related to hiring and dismissal are carried out in accordance with the law,” Torkunov said, adding that he was “surprised by the noise made around this.”

On March 4, the dismissal of 62-year-old professor of the philosophy department Andrei Zubov from MGIMO was announced by the scientist’s daughter Irina Bobrinskaya. According to her, Zubov was informed about the dismissal by the head of the philosophy department. The message was confirmed by Zubov himself in an interview with Slon. “I was told that I should either write a statement of my own free will, or wait until I was fired under the article. I replied that I wouldn’t write anything myself, let them fire me as they wish. They told me straight out that it was all because of this note. But They didn’t give any details. Well, everything was clear to everyone,” said Zubov, noting that he had to report to the vice-rector the next day.

Soon after information about the dismissal spread, Zubov was invited to work by the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev. Teachers from Russian universities and historians also expressed support for the scientist in the form of an open letter. They stated that the authors of the letter may have very different political views and differ in their assessments of events in Ukraine, but they all condemn Zubov’s dismissal “for the assessments and warnings he expressed in the article.”

Zubov’s article “It Already Happened” appeared on the Vedomosti website on March 1. In it, the scientist compared the actions of the Russian authorities with the annexation of Austria to the Third Reich in 1938 and warned about the dire consequences of the entry of Russian troops into Crimea. In particular, Zubov pointed out that in this case, Moscow’s relations with the West and with Ukraine itself would deteriorate for many years, and Russia would face economic chaos and isolation.

Andrey Zubov is a Doctor of Historical Sciences, he has five monographs to his credit, as well as about 150 scientific papers, in addition, he acted as editor of the two-volume “History of Russia. XX century". Zubov is also one of the authors of the Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The rector of MGIMO denied the dismissal of Professor Zubov