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