federal Service for supervision in the field of education and science (Rosobrnadzor) suspended the license of the European University in St. Petersburg.

The message about this appeared on Friday, December 9, in the evening. The official reaction of the university management became known only on Monday. An article was posted on the EUSP website stating that in the summer of this year the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation initiated a comprehensive audit of the European University. “The basis for its holding was a complaint from a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Vitaly Milonov, to which complaints from other proactive citizens were later added,” the article says.

The following lists all the inspections that took place at the university during July and August. The identified violations (most of which consisted of the absence of certain documents in a number of departments, and also the absence of stands with anti-alcohol propaganda and the failure of some teachers to undergo medical examinations) were eliminated as soon as possible.

However, Rosobranadzor insisted on not suspending the license. At the same time, “publications appeared on the Internet disseminating false and discrediting information about EUSP’s reputation regarding the University’s connections with foreign foundations, work against the interests of Russia, etc. This information is in no way connected with the official reason for suspending the license,” the European University believes.

EUSP is a non-state higher education institution. It was founded in 1994, and the first mayor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak, took an active part in developing the concept of the university.

Among the invited teachers of the university there are famous professors from a number of European Union countries, as well as from the USA. In addition, seminars, conferences and meetings with the participation of foreign experts are regularly held in various halls and auditoriums of EUSP.

Current members of its board of trustees include: former minister finance Russian Federation Alexey Kudrin. Rector of the European University Oleg Kharkhordin suggested that the suspension of the university’s license may be related to this circumstance. In addition, Kharkhordin admits that the reason for Rosobrnadzor’s decision may lie in the upcoming restoration of the mansion on Gagarinskaya Street, where EUSP is located.

“We have collected resources for future restoration and construction,” he noted in a conversation with reporters. “Naturally, there are always great emotions around such a project; many people want to become general contractors in it.”

In addition to the economic version of suspending the license of a well-known university, there is also a political one. On December 12, the St. Petersburg regional branch of the Yabloko party issued a statement “Let's defend the European University!” It says: “In recent years, the European University has been attacked by reactionaries in power and obscurantists of all stripes. We regard the decision of Rosobrnadzor to suspend the university’s license as another attack, the purpose of which is the restoration of the ideological monopoly in education and science.”

The authors of the statement also remind: “Only three decades separate us from the times when scientists were persecuted and bullied for conclusions that were not profitable political regime. A return to censorship in education and science is a cross to the successful future of our country.”

Chairman of the regional branch of Yabloko, deputy of the City Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg Mikhail Amosov in a conversation with a Voice of America correspondent, he noted: “The name itself educational institution looks abnormal in today's times. In our country everyone is talking about sanctions, anti-sanctions, a break with the West, and suddenly against this background there is the European University in St. Petersburg!

This is one reason. Moreover, in addition to educational activities this university conducts significant scientific work. For example, I am familiar with their research on the bureaucratic system in obtaining development rights. How it works and how it can be improved so that there is less bureaucracy. The university also conducts serious anti-corruption research. The authorities don't really like this. That is, the topic itself may not be bad from their point of view. But, since independent researchers are engaged in it, this raises suspicions among those at the top,” the deputy believes.

At the same time, Mikhail Amosov recalls that the current troubles of the European University related to supervisory authorities are not the first. “In past times, it seemed to me that we were dealing with minor attacks that would somehow be repulsed and overcome. And now I have doubts that the matter will cost “little blood.” But I, of course, would not like the European University in St. Petersburg to be closed,” emphasizes the chairman of the regional branch of the Yabloko party.

Chairman of the Commission on Education, Culture and Science of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg Maxim Reznik does not believe that in this case there is a simple “dispute between economic entities.”

“It seems to me that there is certainly a political background here. When NTV was closed in 2000, they also explained this as a “dispute between business entities.” Meanwhile, this is an obvious political story. And in this case, only the president can put an end to it, which, in fact, is what is happening. Meetings regarding this matter are currently underway. high level, so let's see.

“I certainly believe that repeated attempts to close the European University for various reasons, including the denunciations of Mr. Milonov, are nothing more than an attempt to establish censorship,” Maxim Reznik is sure.

Teachers at the European University, whom the Voice of America correspondent approached for comments, refused to say anything about the suspension of their university’s license. At the same time, they referred to the official statement published on the university website, saying that they had nothing to add. And they urged us to wait until the end of the meeting in Moscow, in which the rector of the European University, Oleg Kharkhordin, is taking part.

The new building of the European University in St. Petersburg does not meet a number of legal requirements - this is the conclusion reached by Rosobrnadzor employees. The report on the results of the inspection of the building was published on the university website, RBC reports. From the document, in particular, it follows that it is not suitable for teaching students with disabilities. In addition, according to Rosobrnadzor, the logistics of some of the premises do not allow them to conduct classes in history, anthropology, philosophy, sociology and art history. However, what specific shortcomings of the premises interfere with the study of these disciplines is not specified in the document.

In addition, the inspectors came to the conclusion that the European University had not finalized the advanced training program in the field of “ Latest methods sociological studies of the city." In order to obtain a license, the university will have to eliminate all the shortcomings found by Rosobrnadzor.

Professor of the European University Grigory Golosov commented this news on his Facebook: “That’s it: new troubles have struck. No one is even trying to explain who caused them and why. Comparison with 2008, when the EU was closed for the first time, clearly shows how much the machine has improved since then.” rolling into concrete." Then there were: a specific and removable reason (MESP/IRENA project), a specific and removable reason (fire safety), and even the line of subordination of the performers was more or less clear to those involved. Now one can only guess about the reasons, but the reasons multiple and therefore irremovable, because every time a new one is found. It turned out funny with the line of command, and if the story with EU illustrates anything, it’s that the public words and actions of the President of the Russian Federation mean nothing at all. Only what is said (or rather, what is not said) behind closed doors."

At the beginning of August 2017, the department deprived the European University of its license. Previously, the university itself asked the supervisory authority about this in order to begin issuing a new license. Earlier it was reported that the Smolny Property Control Committee proposed that the European University leave the Kushelev-Bezborodko mansion, where the university was historically located, by October 10, 2017. On September 26, EU Rector Nikolai Vakhtin sent a letter to the Chairman of the Smolny Property Control Committee Andrei Korotkov with a request to extend the departure time.

Let me remind you that over the past two years the university has been subjected to powerful administrative pressure. Thus, in April 2016, Rosobrnadzor acted on state accreditation of higher education programs of the European University. And in October 2016, the university admitted applicants for “failure to comply with the instructions within the established time frame by Rosobrnadzor.” In January 2017, the European University in St. Petersburg may lose its building. The university first had problems with supervisory authorities in 2008 - its work was suspended for a month and a half, allegedly due to non-compliance with the rules fire safety. In the summer of 2016, an investigation into EU was initiated by the Prosecutor General’s Office following a complaint from St. Petersburg parliament member Vitaly Milonov. Then the supervisory authority gave the university two months to eliminate the violations. However, in 2017, the university faced the most serious problems in its entire history.

Many well-known public, scientific and cultural figures and organizations spoke out in support of the European University. For example, in a statement published on the website of the Free Historical Society: “Bureaucratic nitpicking and the legal procedures carried out on their basis are used to cover up real property interests - the desire to take away from the European University the building that it has occupied since its founding and in the reconstruction project of which it has already invested considerable forces and resources."

A letter in defense of the university addressed to the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and the Minister of Education and Science Olga Vasilyeva, as well as 14 academicians and corresponding members Russian Academy Sci. Among them N.N. Kazansky, V.E. Bagno, A.M. Moldovan, Yu.D. Apresyan and others. The letter, in particular, said the following: “In 2016, EUSP was the subject of numerous inspections by various regulatory bodies, primarily Rosobrnadzor. Rosobrnadzor had no complaints about the quality of teaching; all “violations” turned out to be purely formal. All of these "The violations have now been corrected by the university. However, Rosobrnadzor continues to put pressure on EUSP; the decisions of several courts have jeopardized the fate of EUSP's educational license and may lead to the suspension of the educational process at the university."

In June 2017, EU rector Oleg Kharkhordin was forced to leave ahead of schedule, and Nikolai Vakhtin, who had already headed the university in 2003-2009, became acting rector. In an interview with ZAKS.Ru correspondent Roman Perl in mid-July 2017, Vakhtin said the following: “We have people of very different political convictions working for us. We have both quite radical professors and very conservative professors. Each of them says what he considers necessary. This is in fact called academic freedom. This is what is called the university, as a free organization that produces the intellectual capital of society. You see, if all the professors begin to turn into radicals, a revolution begins. Why do we need this? If all the professors begin to turn into faithful servants throne, then all intellectual development in the country ends. We don’t need that either. Yes, we have at least three, and maybe four, who appear quite regularly in various media - newspapers, radio, but not television, unfortunately , yes, they express their position on various political issues. We have other specialists who express a different position. So what? And therefore, do you think that the government of St. Petersburg, the government of the Russian Federation will close the university? Then we need to close all universities. Because in each of them there are people who, perhaps not as talented as ours, but also quite actively express their position."

At the end of December 2016, the director of the State Hermitage, Mikhail Piotrovsky, who is a member of the board of trustees of the European University, wrote an appeal in his defense, in which he noted: “Created in the hungry years of devastation, EUSP used foreign funding. As it developed domestic system education management and financing structure was brought into line with the new reality. The university does not receive a penny of foreign money, is managed by Russian founders, and is financed with the help of an endowment fund. It's annoying sometimes. EUSP managed to raise funds for the restoration of the city building in which it is located. A project created by Wilmotte, the author of the Russian Spiritual and Cultural Center in Paris, was prepared and approved. This is also very annoying. Among the possible reasons for the attack on EUSP, one can also see an attempted raider takeover. During mass inspections, the EU quickly corrected all these shortcomings. Several comments that were not eliminated or removed on time (three) were also corrected. Under these conditions, a strict revocation of a license calls into question the entire system of reorganization of universities and, most importantly, sharply reduces competitive advantages Russia in the world of education".

The author of the popular telegram channel "Nezygar" linked the revocation of the license of the European University with the precarious position of another member of its board of trustees - the former Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, and now the head of the Committee of Civil Initiatives, Alexei Kudrin. “That’s Kudrin’s entire resource. The institute hasn’t saved which one is the prime minister,” he wrote.

The well-known economist, former vice-rector of the Higher School of Economics Konstantin Sonin, published a note in his live journal in March 2017, “An argument in defense of the EU - Putin’s reputation.” In it, Sonin stated: “I understand that the EU is closing not on Putin’s orders, but - even if we ignore conspiracy theories (and in a situation with such a building this is difficult) - because common difficulties the existence of a small non-state university in Russia. (Yes, one of the reasons for the problems in a nutshell is size! A small real university cannot maintain a department dedicated to fulfilling bureaucratic requirements of the required size.) And yet the president is responsible for everything and to the president, who has been trying for many years to improve the situation in Russian science and education, it makes sense to ask him to stop the process of closing the European University,” Sonin concluded.

The European University in St. Petersburg was created in 1994; it was originally located on Gagarinskaya Street in the former mansion of Count A.G. Kushelev-Bezborodko, who was a senator under Nicholas I. The building is also known as the Small Marble Palace or the palace of Ekaterina Dolgorukova, the morganatic wife of Alexander II. There are four faculties located here. The building also houses the administration, library, computer center of the university and the university publishing house.

On September 23, giving a lecture at the headquarters of Alexei Navalny in St. Petersburg, Professor of the European University Dmitry Travin evicts the university with the fact that the university is located next to the palace mentioned in the investigative film of the Anti-Corruption Foundation “He’s not your Dimon.” According to Travin, in recent years this palace was reconstructed by people close to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and luxury apartments were created in this palace. As the EUSP professor stated: “Perhaps this is the best residential complex in St. Petersburg, right down to the fact that there is an elevator that lifts a private car to the second floor so that it does not park on the street. This palace is located on the corner of Gagarinskaya Street and the Neva embankment, then there is Gagarinskaya building 1, and the European University is Gagarinskaya building 3. We are wall to wall with this palace. And this makes me think about why they urgently decided to take away the building from us and give it to some other purposes.. "

Why was the license taken away from the European University in St. Petersburg? December 9th, 2016

Read the investigation into why the license of the odious European University in St. Petersburg (EU ESPb) was revoked. In my opinion, it’s time to add the definition of “university-foreign agent” or “university-NPO” to the definition of “ineffective university.” What was most striking about the article was that the rector of this educational institution, O.V. Kharkhordin is a “convinced emigrant”; his family and children live in France. What is he doing in Russia? He's making money. 65% of university students are foreigners (mostly US citizens). They are paid a stipend of $3,500! And this despite the fact that the average scholarship in Russia is almost 90 times lower (2-3 thousand rubles)! Teachers also receive a substantial salary - “on average in a hospital” - 250,000 rubles. How much does the rector earn? An order of magnitude more.

The wards of the “European University” develop very specific topics within the framework of their scientific works. A significant part of them is devoted to LGBT values, the strategy for the development of neoliberalism in the Russian Federation, and the peculiarities of increasing migration flows in such “undemocratic” (according to the wording of one of the works) countries as Russia. The university is financed by the Soros, MacArthur, Ford, Spencer, Carnegie, Rothschild, and Adenaur foundations. In general - “a complete bouquet”.

Among the sponsors of the European University are the most odious structures involved in the organization of the so-called. “Orange coups” in the post-Soviet space. These structures transfer substantial funds to the accounts of EU St. Petersburg. Only for the period 2012 – 2015. The university received approximately $8,900,000, €534,000 and £86,000.

On December 7, 2016, Rosobrnadzor suspended the license of the European University in St. Petersburg (EU ESPb). From this moment on, the university does not have the official right to carry out educational activities.

Such a harsh measure was applied due to the results of an inspection of the university in July-August 2016: it revealed gross violations of licensing requirements (non-compliance of EU SPb diplomas with state standards, violation of educational standards in a number of educational programs, non-compliance of management with qualification requirements, etc.). First, on September 20, 2016, Rosobrnadzor banned the admission of applicants to the European University, and now the government agency is preparing a claim to the Arbitration Court for the complete cancellation of the EU St. Petersburg license.

ANO "European University in St. Petersburg" has been operating in Russia since 1994. The university occupies a state-owned building, rented from the Committee for Property Relations of the Government of St. Petersburg and which is a historical and architectural monument. The rector of this educational institution, O.V. Kharkhordin is a “convinced emigrant”; his family and children live in France. The board of trustees of the university includes the director of the State Hermitage M.B. Piotrovsky, ex-Minister of Finance Alexey Kudrin, head of practice for non-profit and educational organizations"Odgers Berndston" E.P. Chernyshkova, a senior fellow at the Institute of International Studies at Stanford University, Lalidus Gale, who has US citizenship, and other famous people.

The university is positioned by its leadership as a leading non-state University, which is a source of personnel for the Russian state, capable of bringing Russia to the forefront. But is it? Let's try to figure it out.

The wards of the “European University” develop very specific topics within the framework of their scientific works. A significant part of them is devoted to LGBT values, “sexual health and sexology in Russia,” the strategy for the development of neoliberalism in the Russian Federation, and the peculiarities of increasing migration flows in such “undemocratic” (according to the wording of one of the works) countries like ours. Such “scientific activity” is more reminiscent of preparing a theoretical springboard for the expansion of neoliberalism into the territory of our country in the interests of foreign states.

At the same time, these personnel are entrusted with the implementation of quite serious programs, including those related to the field of public administration. In the mid-2000s, through the implementation of the Interregional Electoral Support Network program, the technology of creating protest sentiments based on news stories about violations during the Russian elections was tested within the St. Petersburg EU. From July 2012 to June 2015, the University of St. Petersburg implemented the project “Support for the work of the Development Department affiliate programs with universities of Kazan, Perm and Tomsk, as well as non-profit organizations on questions social sciences and trainings." In 2013, the university prepared a concept for reforms of the Prosecutor General’s Office, Investigative Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.

It is important to note that 65% of university students involved, among other things, in the implementation of such programs are foreigners (mostly US citizens). They are paid a stipend of $3,500! And this despite the fact that the average scholarship in Russia is almost 90 times lower (2-3 thousand rubles)! Teachers also receive a substantial salary - “on average in a hospital” - 250,000 rubles.

At whose expense is the banquet? And it’s very simple: the foundations of Soros, MacArthur, Ford, Spencer, Carnegie, Rothschild, Adenaur. In general - “a complete bouquet”. Among the sponsors of the European University are the most odious structures involved in the organization of the so-called. “Orange coups” in the post-Soviet space.

These structures transfer substantial funds to the accounts of EU St. Petersburg. Only for the period 2012 – 2015. The university received approximately $8,900,000, €534,000 and £86,000.

It is with this money that all the above programs are implemented. In particular, the “Interregional Electoral Network” (2007) was carried out with money from the European Commission (€800,000), “Support for the work of the Department for the Development of Partnership Programs with Universities of Kazan, Perm and Tomsk, as well as non-profit organizations on social sciences and training” (2012 – 2015) – with the money of the Soros Institute “Open Society” ($2,200,000), “The concept of a comprehensive organizational and managerial reform of law enforcement agencies with proposals for restructuring the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Investigative Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia” – also with the money of Soros.

Interestingly, in 2011, a technology very similar to that practiced in the Interregional Electoral Network was fully implemented by the Russian NGO GOLOS. This structure, thanks to the “Map of Violations” project, provided a flow of information about violations in the 2011 State Duma elections, which brought tens of thousands of protesting people to the streets (the so-called “swamp protests”). Extremely similar to one of the so-called technologies. “orange revolutions” that Soros loves to sponsor.

Vladimir Klitschko and George Soros discuss the successes of Euromaidan in Kyiv

Of course, such generosity of foreign NGOs is not selfish. They actually turned the university into an incubator for agents of influence and experts on Russia, whose services our “ Western partners. Thus, every time important socio-political events take place in Russia, secretaries of the British and US embassies in Russia line up with teachers and graduates of the University of St. Petersburg for expert comments and “insights” on topics of interest to their intelligence services.

In essence, EU St. Petersburg is a “think tank” dependent on foreign funding, educating personnel from whom an agency of influence is formed, firmly convinced of the superiority of liberal values ​​and the inferiority of Russian government system. It is very strange that such activity is supported by some of our former “statesmen” who are planning their return to the corridors of Russian power.

Thus, in 2013, the Metalloinvest holding, with the direct patronage of Alexey Kudrin and his organizational support for the tranche, transferred $16,000,000 (!) from Alisher Usmanov’s funds to the disposal of the European University in St. Petersburg. In addition, Kudrin simultaneously used funds personally controlled by him to fuel the activities of the University. A natural question arises: where did the former Minister of Finance get such funds to sponsor liberal values? In the context of Kudrin’s support for the unscrupulous minister Ulyukaev, in defiance of the position of the President of the Russian Federation, this question sounds not idle. Supported by the European University and others statesman, noted active protection Ulyukaeva, - Anatoly Chubais. Among other things, he is an active lecturer at this institution.

Unfortunately, lobbying of the EU St. Petersburg by such characters as Alexey Kudrin turned out to be extremely successful. They managed to involve a number of leading agents of influence in financing the incubator Russian entrepreneurs, such as the mentioned Alisher Usmanov, Vladimir Potanin, Igor Finogenov and even federal institutions under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Russian Federation!

The total amount of funds of Russian entrepreneurs and budgetary institutions, transferred to the university for 2013 - 2016 amounted to about 69,000,000 rubles! How much of these funds was siphoned off from entrepreneurs and government agencies “in the dark” - very serious and important question, which may need to be allowed law enforcement agencies Russia, not Rosobrnadzor.

Moscow.“Usually, prestigious private universities, where hundreds of students study, are not closed because of minor technical problems that appeared six months ago, but have already been resolved.

But exactly in this difficult situation turned out to be the European University in St. Petersburg, opened 20 years ago, which became a bastion of the humanities. After fierce attacks by conservatives against this university, the district court decided to close it.

What everyone sees is distinctive feature Putin era: this is a new type of legal warfare, in which state courts, under the pretext of upholding the law, seek political obedience. Unlike outright Soviet-style repression, decisions are now made following complex, often years-long legal battles, which nevertheless inevitably lead to a politically desirable verdict. One of the most significant examples was the recent decision of a local court, which upheld the sentence of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, convicted of embezzlement Money. Side effect it became that Navalny may lose the opportunity to run for president in the elections that will take place in a year.

Kremlin supporters condemn this characterization, seeing it as an example of Western arrogance and an attempt to discredit Russian courts and the rule of law. It is very difficult to resolve all the problems in such debates.

“Fake research”?

But let's consider the case of the European University, which is a private educational institution, where about 260 students are currently studying, many of whom are foreigners. The university occupies the majestic building of the Small Marble Palace in the historical center of St. Petersburg.

It was founded in a different political era, in 1994, with the support of the then mayor and reformer Anatoly Sobchak and with significant financial assistance from various international organizations, including the Soros, MacArthur and Spencer foundations. This is one of the few private universities in Russia that is licensed by the Ministry of Education to award academic degrees. He is regularly named as one of the best universities Russia.

Context

The Kremlin does not need martyrs before the elections

What the protests in Russia mean for Putin

Ministry of Traditions

Denunciation under the guise of a survey

The university's problems began last June when ultra-conservative St. Petersburg legislator Vitaly Milonov filed a formal complaint against it. In accordance with Russian law, an official investigation had to be launched in response.

Milonov is the main author of the law “against the propaganda of homosexuality.” He is now a deputy State Duma. Answering a reporter's questions on Friday, Milonov said that he simply submitted a request based on citizens' complaints, among which was a letter that he allegedly received from five European University students. The students "raised a number of questions about the quality of the university and its services", the MP said.

“I don’t remember all the problems, but one was related to the teaching of gender studies at the university. “I personally find this disgusting, these are fake studies, and perhaps they are illegal,” Milonov said. “But I cannot judge this, and therefore I have referred these issues to the authorities.”

Under a microscope

Within a few weeks, 11 departments came to the university with surprise inspections and found 120 violations of various norms, rules and regulations. None of them related to the educational process, and mostly these were minor shortcomings in the preparation of personnel documentation, minor violations building codes and rules, the absence of a stand with anti-alcohol information and a gym for employees. At the same time, local cadastral authorities filed a lawsuit, demanding that the permit to rent the university building be canceled due to the fact that the university allegedly did not fulfill some contractual obligations.

Conservative media in St. Petersburg began more overt attacks on the university.

“This university, which positions itself as a leading non-state educational institution preparing highly professional specialists for the Russian state, is engaged in very dubious ‘scientific’ activities,” says an anonymous article posted on one of the leading right-wing news sites. - Faculty and students of the “European University” seriously study the values ​​of the LGBT movement and the strategy of neoliberal development of Russia…. One gets the impression that the true goal of this “university” is not scientific achievements and discoveries, but the training of elite fighters for the “democratization” of our country.”

In December, the university acted very strangely from the point of view of any western country, but quite reasonable for Russian conditions: he asked Putin to intervene. Within a week the license was restored.

But on March 20, the St. Petersburg Arbitration Court again revoked the university’s license, citing violations considered in court last September.

“We are stuck with the letter of the law,” says university rector Oleg Kharkhordin. “We cannot deny that some shortcomings were discovered last September. But we have taken vigorous measures to eliminate them, and the court still judges by these shortcomings. The judge refused to consider any new facts and ordered our license revoked."

The university intends to appeal the decision to the appellate court, says Kharkhordin. But if, as expected, the university is closed, it will have only one option: apply for a new license.

“We have already prepared 20 kilograms of documents that are necessary to apply for a new license. This is our only backup plan,” says the rector.

What is the background of these events?

It's hard to say what's really going on, but literally all the experts who have spoken on this issue say it's either real estate or politics.

Some believe that this is mainly an attempt to relocate the educational institution, which is vulnerable in the current political conditions, from the valuable building of the Small Marble Palace, which it received in the liberal 1990s. According to this hypothesis, the license will be restored as soon as the university moves.

Others believe that this is a political attack on the head of the council of the European University, Kudrin, who is a longtime friend of Putin. Today, a constant topic of gossip is his return to the government to implement a program of liberal reforms.

Political scientist from Moscow High school economics Nikolai Petrov says that both may be true. But he is concerned that the closure of the European University could mark the beginning of a powerful attack on Western methods of teaching political science in Russian universities.

According to him, this is a Russian paradox, originating in the era of Peter I, and perhaps earlier. Kremlin leaders want to get from the West what it can give them in terms of technology, science and management knowledge, but they do not want its political ideas at all.

“The mood today is that higher education It’s good when it is connected with technology and specific science. Economics is also nothing. But everything is bad when Western political values ​​begin to be taught in universities,” says Petrov. — There is pressure on political science departments across the country to “merge” with other departments, say government controlled, which will inevitably lead to changes in teaching style."

It is not yet possible to verify whether such a trend actually exists. But if this is so, significant changes await the Russian scientific and educational community. In the prestigious Moscow state institute international relations(MGIMO) the department of political science and international management is indeed being merged, but associate professor of the department of political theory Kirill Koktysh claims that this is being done for the purpose of economy and coordination of actions.

“We had two competing teams, and our donors decided to merge them to streamline funding,” he says. “This does not mean that political science is being pushed into the shadows.”

InoSMI materials contain assessments exclusively of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the InoSMI editorial staff.

Founded in 1994 on the initiative of the mayor of St. Petersburg Anatoly Sobchak, the European University is considered one of the best universities in Russia. It is known for its liberal tendencies and works closely with many European and American universities. EUSP is a rather rare type of educational institution in Russia: graduate school - a combination of master's and postgraduate studies. The European University was the first in Russia to repeat the success of universities such as Harvard and Berkeley, implementing their educational model, now recognized as one of the best in the world.

Putin's attacks

Last year, the university received a three-year, million-dollar grant from the European Commission to train election observers in Russia. Last October, Russian President Vladimir Putin attacked EUSP, declaring it an agent of foreign interference. On January 31, the academic council of the EUSP yielded to pressure from the Kremlin and abandoned the election monitoring program.

Employees of the European University of St. Petersburg avoid any comments in connection with the closure of their educational institution. At the same time, as a rule, they are guided by the principle “do no harm,” adding “well, you yourself understand what kind of state we live in.”

Damage to the city's culture

Talk about what he was in the cultural and public life city ​​of the European University, agreed the director of the Memorial scientific and information center, Irina Flige, who held a large number of events within the walls of the university and with the active participation of its employees. According to her, the university is a special institution of the city that combined science, education and active life– scientific and social. “For example, our projects on the history of the twentieth century are related to research - historical, cultural, political science, sociological. And many students and graduates of the European University took an active part in them. The closure of the university is an arbitrariness that today causes colossal damage to the culture and image of our city," Fliege said.

The head of the St. Petersburg regional branch of the Yabloko party, Maxim Reznik, considers the closure of the European University a logical event in the logic of the country’s current development. According to him, the credo of the Russian government is that those who do not love the government, or do not love it enough, or do not love it, are already being persecuted. The nature of this power, like a cancerous tumor, does not accept free cells near it, it devours them. “This free space in any of its manifestations, even non-political ones, causes her irritation. And therefore the European University, as a territory of freedom, would, of course, sooner or later become the subject of “attacks” Russian authorities", Reznik said.

Threat of loss of premises

By the way, over the St. Petersburg branch of Yabloko, as well as a number of other political and public organizations there is a looming threat of losing its premises and possible suspension of activities. And this has already happened to some, such as the Institute of Regional Press, which is forced to hold its events at other venues.

The official reason for this is the closure of the St. Petersburg House of Journalists for reconstruction, but the leadership of the Union of Journalists has already stated that it will not renew the lease agreement with the Institute of Regional Press. As the director of the institute, Anna Sharogradskaya, noted, the eviction from the House of Journalists of an organization that hosted events that were not very pleasant for the local, and often federal authorities seems naturally political. “And I don’t see any other reason why an organization working with the press, providing alternative information to society through the press, should be evicted from a house that, its own, was created for this purpose,” Sharogradskaya said.

Rector of the European University Nikolai Vakhtin expressed hope that after all problems with compliance with fire safety rules are resolved, the university he leads will resume its work. And according to Maxim Reznik, today, in order to be in the democratic opposition, you need to have a certain amount of optimism, and in a sense, of a clinical nature.

Vladimir Izotov