Students who spoke out against the war were expelled from St. Petersburg State University

Several students of the Faculty of History of St. Petersburg State University were expelled from the university because of their anti-war statements. One of them reported this to Sever.Realia

The exact number of excluded students is unknown. The publication “Bumaga” with reference to sources reports on the dismissal of seven students of the Faculty of History. They received orders about this by e-mail.

Three more were released for a “meeting” with the vice-rector for educational work.

Earlier, the ethics commission found 10 students guilty of violating the University Code. According to the members of the commission, the statements of students of the Faculty of History against the war in Ukraine are “incompatible with the status of students of St. Petersburg State University.”

According to the Sever.Realii source, the students will contest the expulsion decision.

• On June 2, professor Mikhail Belousov was dismissed from St. Petersburg University because of his anti-war remarks. When discussing the death of student Fyodor Solomonov in the war, he wrote in a chat that “direct and open approval of racism is disgusting.” The correspondence was published in pro-government telegram channels. The management of the university considered the teacher’s actions “immoral” and removed him from his post.
• A report was drawn up on Belousov on the article on the discrediting of the army. After his dismissal, the case was closed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.
• After the scandal with the dismissal of Belousov, students of the history faculty of St. Petersburg State University reported that they received threats because of their anti-war statements.
• Since the beginning of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, many teachers of Russian schools and universities have faced repression and dismissal for expressing an anti-war position, including in their private blogs on social networks. Students who oppose the war are also threatened with disciplinary measures up to expulsion.