Georgetown University invited Navalny’s daughter to speak at graduation: students protest
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Georgetown University has invited the daughter of imprisoned Russian “oppositionist” Oleksii Navalny to speak at the 2023 graduation ceremony. Dasha Navalna, 22, who is studying for a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Stanford University, was to be one of the speakers during the graduation ceremony at Georgetown’s School of Diplomatic Service. A Russian woman was invited to speak to graduates about freedom of speech, but the student body opposed it, Politico reports. The students wrote a number of letters to the administration, and also signed a petition protesting against the performance of the “good Russian woman”. The signatories recalled how Navalny declared in 2014 that he would not return Crimea to Ukraine. “In 2008, Navalny strongly supported the Russian invasion of Georgia and used dehumanizing xenophobic rhetoric against Georgians. Being against Putin does not mean being a pro-democratic, anti-war and liberal leader,” the petition adds. Photo: JULIEN WARNAND/GettyImages Dasha Navalna has previously received an international platform for speaking about the situation in Russia, but she never once mentioned the war in Ukraine, in particular in her speech at the Oscar ceremony, the appeal states. Students also complained that Oleksiy Navalny called immigrants “cockroaches” and used a “homophobic slur.” “The speech at the graduation ceremony should break authoritarian narratives and give a voice to those who never questioned territorial integrity and did not allow dehumanizing statements about neighboring countries. Fame should not replace experience. Ms. Navalny’s lack of merit, significant experience, contribution to the diplomatic service and international affairs makes her candidacy inappropriate,” the students added. Ukrainian and Georgian students also spoke out against the speaker. Ukrainian Iryna Tyasko told reporters that she hopes to work in the Ukrainian parliament one day, so a photo with a Russian politician could harm her future. “Last year, they shook hands with Blinken, who was giving a speech. Should I shake her hand? I’m not going to do it, even if I have to,” the girl said. However, the university said that they do not plan to exclude Dasha from the program. “We don’t turn away speakers on the Georgetown campus and we don’t turn speakers away. We let speakers know when students raise concerns so they can take them into consideration,” said Joel Hellman, dean of the School of Foreign Service. The university reported that Dasha and other speakers will not shake hands with students. However, Navalny’s daughter will sit in the front row with two other speakers. We will remind you that Dasha Navalna lives in the USA and studies psychology at Stanford University – despite the Russian Federation’s war in Ukraine, she receives recognition for her father’s “oppositionalism”. In March, she, along with her mother and brother, were invited to the “Oscar” ceremony – this year’s film award was won by a documentary film about Alexei Navalny, so his family went on stage to receive the statuette. Read also: “Give more to the Third Reich”: reactions of Ukrainians to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize
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