Free University

Free University
Date of inci­dent: March 31, 2023
Type of vio­la­tion: per­se­cu­tion, vio­la­tion of autonomy
Institution: Free University

Summary: In 2021, the orga­niz­ers reg­is­tered the Free University NGO in Latvia. On March 31, 2023, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation rec­og­nized the activ­i­ty of the edu­ca­tion­al project as “unde­sir­able”. Russian laws make it pos­si­ble to bring cit­i­zens to admin­is­tra­tive and then crim­i­nal lia­bil­i­ty for any “par­tic­i­pa­tion in the activ­i­ties” of such organizations.

Note: The Free University is an inde­pen­dent online edu­ca­tion orga­ni­za­tion. In 2021, the orga­niz­ers reg­is­tered the Free University NGO (biedrī­ba Brīvā Universitāte) in Latvia. On March 31, 2023, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation rec­og­nized the activ­i­ty of the edu­ca­tion­al project as “unde­sir­able”. Russian laws make it pos­si­ble to bring cit­i­zens to admin­is­tra­tive and then crim­i­nal lia­bil­i­ty for any “par­tic­i­pa­tion in the activ­i­ties” of such orga­ni­za­tions. Thus, the author­i­ties can pros­e­cute teach­ers and stu­dents who attend inde­pen­dent sem­i­nars and par­tic­i­pate in free sci­en­tif­ic dis­cus­sion as law­break­ers. On April 2, the Free University issued a state­ment stat­ing that the Academic Council had decid­ed to sus­pend its activ­i­ties in the ter­ri­to­ry of the Russian Federation.

Sources: T-invari­ant, Free University

  31.03.2023