Not accepting, not expelling: what awaits Russian students in the European Union

According to Novye Izvestia, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation announced that it was ready to give a chance to continue their education in Russia to all students expelled from foreign universities due to a wave of Russophobia - they will be able to return to their homeland and study here for free. Several Russian universities are already ready to accept not only students expelled from foreign universities, but also those who have been harassed abroad. Tatyana Moskalkova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, spoke about the facts of the expulsion of Russians from Western universities, stating cases of expulsion of students from Russia from universities in France, the Czech Republic, Belgium and other European countries.

Is it really? According to European media, on the contrary, in schools and universities where representatives of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus study together, a campaign is underway to reduce the intensity of political passions. Teachers explain to their students that children are not responsible for the deeds of their fathers. This, in particular, is written by Russian political scientist Alexander Morozov, who teaches at one of the universities in Prague:

“Yesterday, the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Falkov, at a meeting with Moskalkova, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation, talking about the situation, among other things, said: “The Ministry is also taking unprecedented measures to protect the rights of Russian students who are expelled from universities in France, the Czech Republic, Belgium and other European countries in connection with the situation in Ukraine. Because of this vague wording, it started to rush through Russian networks that they were allegedly "expelling students". Even quite worthy people bought into this wording. Because now there is panic and people are ready to believe anything.

No one is expelled from those who are already in the countries of study and have study visas. National education systems in European countries - on the contrary - as usual in a situation of war or conflict - adopt special recommendations for employees: how to avoid quarrels between children of warring countries, how to maintain an atmosphere of cooperation.

But! Real problems are now above the roof for everyone. The largest scientific exchange funds, such as the German DAAD, are withdrawing from cooperation with Russia, and Russia's participation in the Erasmus student exchange program will not continue. Problems for those who applied and whose visas are now delayed. And now they won't be released. This applies to both applicants and those who applied for various internships. Yes, visa centers will be closed soon.

Russia's special operation creates a difficult situation for Russian students abroad - and there are 7,500 of them in Prague alone - in the first place, because parents now do not know how to transfer money to them. And children from poor Russian families study in the Czech Republic, this is not London or the USA. For these families, the halving of the ruble undermines the ability to provide the minimum expenses for their student. Plus, one must understand the anxiety of 18-19-year-olds who do not know now when they will be able to see their parents at all, because they see that the sky is closing for Russia. Plus, you need to understand that the Belarusian, Ukrainian and Russian students here in the Czech Republic constitute one environment of everyday communication. Together they get a part-time job in a cafe, in various volunteer organizations. And now in this environment there is real grief and anxiety”.