Russia: European University in St. Petersburg Remains Closed

Action Alert-Russia Russia Date: 06 Mar 2008 Source: European University at St Petersburg (EUSP) Classification: Academic Institution Violation: University Closure Affected Persons: European University at St Petersburg (EUSP)  eMail this Alert to a Friend  Comment on this Alert  Printer-Friendly Version NEAR Mailinglist Your email:

The sudden closure of this prominent university has alarmed many in the academic community in Russia and around the world. There have been suggestions that economic or political motives may have influenced this decision. Explanations range from attempts to appropriate the university’s building for other purposes, to a politically motivated crackdown on academic freedom, the EUSP has said. The Scholars at Risk Network (SAR) is concerned about reports that the University may have been closed because it reportedly ‘trained election observers’ with a grant from the European Union. The university had previously awarded a £500,000 EU grant to run a project designed to advise Russia’s political parties on matters such as how to ensure elections are not rigged.

On the 22 February, the university signed a lease allowing it to use the premises of the Economics and Finance Institute so that teaching could re-commence. St Petersburg’s city legislature and government endorsed the decision, EUSP has said. However, on the 21 February it transpired that the EUSP’s operational license had been revoked and the Economics and Finance Institute subsequently withdrew its agreement.

The EUSP will not be able to obtain a new license unless it finds new temporary premises to proceed with their curriculum. However, the EUSP have said that eligible partner organizations are intimidated and are not willing to help. NEAR and the EUSP ask you to put pressure on the Russian authorities in an attempt to solve this problem.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Please sign the online petition at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/european-university-in-st-petersburg.html  

2. Please let the university itself (which is collecting letters, emails & faxes of support) know you are a supporter at:

European University at St. Petersburg (EUSP)
3 Gagarinskaya St.
St. Petersburg 191187 Russia
Phone: + 7 (812) 275 5137,
Fax: + 7 (812) 275 5139,
Email: rector@eu.spb.ru
and CC: development@eu.spb.ru; save.eu@gmail.com  

3. Please also write to the Russian authorities to express your concerns:

- Please note that e-mailing is not very effective. It is best to fax or (ideally) send your letter by registered mail, asking for a reply. In that case the authorities are legally obliged to respond.

- Before writing, please make sure you are up to date on the situation: events are moving quickly.

- Please also be careful to avoid excessively political formulations. Although of course the shutdown is related to the general political situation in Russia, there is no evidence that this incident is directly linked to a systematic Kremlin-engineered program to curb academic freedom or Western influence, or that it was ordered by the President.

- For an example of the tone of the letter required, please see a sample letter here -

http://www.eu.spb.ru/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=693&lang=en   

APPEALS TO:

1. ADMINISTRATION OF ST.PETERSBURG
Governor MATVIENKO Valentina Ivanovna
Fax: (812) 576-76-41
Address: 191060, Sankt-Peterburg, Smol’nyj
e-mail: gubernator@gov.spb.ru  

2. APPEALS TO THE PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR APPEALS: PRESS ATTACHE FOR THE PRESIDENT - GROMOV Aleksey Alekseevich 
Fax +7 (495) 606-51-73
E-mail: agromov@prpress.gov.ru
Head of the Presidential Press and Information Office: TIMAKOVA Natalya Aleksandrovna
Fax +7 (495) 606-03-76

3. THE COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICE OF DMITRY MEDVEDEV, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Address: 129110, g. Moskva, Perejaslavskij per., d. 4
Fax: (495) 786-82-89

4. THE COMMITTEE FOR EDUCATION OF ST. PETERSBURG
The head of the Committee: Ivanova Ol'ga Vladimirovna
Fax: +7 (812) 570-3829
Address: 190000, Admiraltejskij rajon, per. Antonenko, d. 8

5. THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
FURSENKO Andrej Aleksandrovich
Fax: +7 (495) 629-0891
Address: 125993, Moskva, GSP-3, Tverskaja ul., d. 11

PLEASE ALSO SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Jonathan Travis
Programme Officer, Network for Education and Academic Rights
90 London Road,
SE1 9LN
London, UK
Fax: 0044(0) 207 021 0881
jonathan.travis@nearinternational.org'>jonathan.travis@nearinternational.org

URGENT
NEAR cannot continue without your support.

NEAR depends on the generosity of people like you. To make a contribution, please:

- Send us a cheque payable to NEAR 

NEAR
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Technopark
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SE1 9LN, London, UK

Email address: jonathan.travis@nearinternational.org'>jonathan.travis@nearinternational.org

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