5 April 2017
The research project EU-STRAT would like to express support for the European University at St. Petersburg (EUSP) from the researchers at ten of its partner institutions: Freie Universitaet Berlin (Germany), Leiden University (Netherlands), Fondation Maison des sciences de l’homme (France), Vilnius University (Lithuania), Ukrainian Institute for Public Policy (Ukraine), University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), European Social, Legal and Economics Projects (Lithuania), The School of Young Managers in Public Administration (Belarus), Institute for Development and Social Initiatives ‘Viitorul’ (Moldova), and the University of Birmingham (U.K.).
The revoking of EUSP’s teaching license has deeply troubled the EU-STRAT community, especially considering the university’s role as a pioneer in academic exchange and research over the years. With partners spanning from Western to Eastern Europe, EU-STRAT urges the continuation of EUSP’s work and valuable contribution to the field of social sciences. EUSP plays an integral role as exchange between the peoples and academic communities of Europe and Russia is needed now more than ever, as is the perpetuation of independent research. We therefore urge the Russian Ministry of Education and Science to aid EUSP in resolving the case against them, so as to allow teaching and learning to continue undisturbed.
Sincerely, on behalf of all EU-STRAT partners listed,
Tanja A. Börzel
EU-STRAT Project Coordinator
Freie Universität Berlin
Antoaneta Dimitrova
EU-STRAT Project Co-coordinator
Leiden University