The Universitat de València has suspended the activities of its Russian Centre
- Office of the Principal
- March 11st, 2022
Since 26th February, the activities of the Universitat de València's Russian Centre have been suspended as part of the response to the Russian military intervention in Ukraine. The principal informed the Governing Council on Thursday 10th March of this suspension of activities, which suspends the agreement on the basis of which the Centre was created. The Russian Centre of the UV is one of the two Russian centres in Spain and the decision of the Universitat de València has been coordinated with the Universidad de Granada, home of the other centre.
The Russian Centre of the Universitat de València opened its doors in April 2019.
The Universitat de València thus became the second Spanish university to have a centre like this.
The aim of the Russian Centre was to promote knowledge of Slavic languages and cultures, supporting the mobility and double degree programmes of the Universitat de València with Russian universities.
To carry out these academic and cultural objectives, the Universitat de València signed an agreement with the “Russkiy Mir” Foundation, a public foundation of the Russian Federation for the promotion of Russian language and culture.
The creation of this centre also made it possible to participate in the network of Russian Centres located in other countries, strengthening the academic and cultural cooperation of the Universitat de València with other institutions.
After Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, the Universitat de València suspended the activities of this centre indefinitely.
In her report to the Governing Council, the principal of the University, Mª Vicenta Mestre, expressed the following in relation to this centre: “it is true that the activities of the Russian Centre are cultural and academic, but it is also true that the Russian government has to understand that its actions, military, illegal, criminal, disrespectful to people, must have consequences”.
“From the statutory position of our University in the defence of peace, in the context of the recommendations of the European Commission, the Association of European Universities (USA), CRUE-Spanish Universities, the Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain (COSCE) and the Federation of Spanish Scientific and Medical Associations (FACME), the first of the consequences is the interruption of these academic cooperation activities of our University with Russia”, the principal informed.
The Universitat de València has been in contact at all times with the Universidad de Granada, home of the other Russian Centre in Spain, to coordinate the response.
The suspension of activities therefore leaves without effect the agreement that ends at the end of this academic year and which, foreseeably, will not be renewed if the Russian government's position is maintained.
You can consult the position of the Universitat de València in relation to the Russian military intervention in Ukraine by following this link: https://links.uv.es/ANE9Vng
You can also check this UVnews content in relation to the measures taken by the Universitat de València, reported to the Governing Council on 10th March: https://links.uv.es/7MNiJAq
File in: Comunicats institucionals