About 500 scientists and students spoke out against expulsion from St. Petersburg State University for anti-war actions

About 500 scientists and students from Russian and foreign universities spoke out against expulsions from St. Petersburg State University for anti-war actions. to the letter drew attention “Rotunda” .

“We urge you to make the right decision regarding students, whose expulsion seems to be a disproportionate measure for demonstrating citizenship. The university should not become a repressive institution and take away the future of the younger generation. We ask you to show restraint and make a humane decision in the current situation,” the appeal says.

At the time of publication of the news, it was signed by 471 people - professors, doctors of science and students from two dozen countries around the world. Among them are the Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek, literary critic Mikhail Lotman and corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

On March 9 , it became known that 13 students who were detained at protests against the war with Ukraine and brought to administrative responsibility were going to be expelled from St. Petersburg State University. The head of the Great Student Council of St. Petersburg State University, Mikhail Mochalov, said that Vice-Rector Alexander Babich made this decision based on a letter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and these students are now “doomed.”

Later, two orders of expulsion were withdrawn because the administrative cases against the students were stopped. The expulsion of the remaining protest participants was paused until the decision of the appellate courts. St. Petersburg State University emphasizes that the university “is outside politics and does not apply disciplinary measures to students for their civic or political position.”