Summary: On March 4, 2024, the European University (EU) at St. Petersburg dismissed American historian Ivan Kurilla for absenteeism, the press service of the educational institution told RBC.

Details: American historian Ivan Kurilla worked as a professor at the EU for nine years. In 2022, he signed an open letter from Russian scientists and science journalists against military actions in Ukraine.
As the EU told RBK, Kurilla was given a paid sabbatical in November 2022, which is given to a teacher to write a significant scientific paper. But in December 2023, it turned out that during the leave, the scientist planned to work in the United States as a professor. In this regard, the University’s Personnel Committee suggested that Kurilla “either refuse the paid sabbatical provided by the EU or the paid position in the United States.” According to the EU, Kurilla stated that he would not refuse to work in the United States, after which the committee revoked the decision on sabbatical. The employee was informed of this on December 29, 2023, but he still left the country on January 12, 2024. “The parties discussed possible forms of termination of the employment contract on the terms of compensation, but did not come to an agreement – the university considered I.I. Kurilla’s financial demands excessive,” the EU press service explained to RBK. As a result, the university fired Kurilla for absenteeism as a result of an uncoordinated departure.

Ivan Kurilla writes on FB: “I don’t know whether the decision to fire me is an over-caution on the part of the rector or a demand on him from <…> In any case, the only thing that is surprising is the form of the dismissal (I agreed to leave by mutual agreement, but we did not reach an agreement). I hope that my dismissal will help the European University survive.”

Sources: RBC, Ivan Kurilla’s Facebook.