The Russian Union of Rectors (RUR) has issued a strong statement supporting the Russian army and President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. In reaction to this position, which is contrary to our democratic values, the Belgian rectors have announced the suspension of relations with the Russian universities that have signed the statement.
On 4th March, the Russian Union of Rectors published a declaration of support for Russia's war in Ukraine, taking up Vladimir Putin's position that the invasion of Ukraine is a "special military operation" necessary to "achieve demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine", to end the conflict in the Donbass and to protect Russia from "growing military threats".
On Thursday 10th March, the Belgian councils of Rectors therefore decided to formally suspend academic relations with universities that had signed this declaration.
However, not wanting to penalise students currently on mobility, any students who wish to complete their academic year in Belgium or Russia may do so. Future student exchanges will not be organised as long as these universities support flagrant violations of democratic values.
Institutional exchange agreements with universities that support the invasion will be suspended. However, we will continue to welcome individual Russian degree-seeking students who choose to study at a Belgian university. This welcome policy is important because we do not want to make individual Russian students victims of the choices made by their regime.
Aware that the statement of the Russian rectors does not reflect the position of many Russian academics, and that research collaborations are also, and above all, the result of individual exchanges, the Belgian rectors leave it to the researchers of their universities to decide whether or not to maintain the individual cooperative relationships they have with their Russian colleagues. The support of the academic authorities in Wallonia and Flanders (CRef and VLIR) for researchers in danger also remains unchanged.
The Belgian rectors hope that their Russian counterparts can quickly return to supporting the democratic values and fundamental human rights that are essential for international academic cooperation.
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Press Release of the Rectors' Council of 9 April 2024 on the reform of the "Paysage" decree
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