We protest any western discrimination vs russian academics on grounds of Putin´s interventionism

These two writers reject any discrimination against Russian academicians by Western academic institutions.   Let us be clear. As letter from Martin Freiburghaus, headmaster of a Swiss School in Lausanne, rejecting the application of a Russian academician was published by the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, In the letter, Mr. Freiburghaus,   rejected the Russian lady´s application on the basis of Putin´s interventionism in the Ukraine. The  letter printed below.  

 

We are very critical in our blogs at RIAC and elsewhere of the interventionist policies of  President Putin, and their at times, ridiculous justifications, by Minister Lavrov. . However, we cannot accept Mr. Freiburghaus´s discrimination. That would be the same as if the applications of Swiss students to American Universities were rejected because some of their forefathers collaborated with the Nazis in WWII, even sending Jewish refugees  back to the death camps of the 3^rd Reich. The Swiss also kept U.S. airmen in Nazi-like camps during the war.

 

We both love Switzerland. One of us lived there for two years as a political refugee from Czechoslovakia from 1968-70  and studied at the U. of Berne on scholarship. Yet we have to express revulsion that a Russian was denied matriculation on matters not relating to her own activities or beliefs. Collective guilt or punishment is wrong. 

 

A word of advice. U-S. wise policies of providing Columbia University scholarships to liberal-minded members of the Soviet elite, like the late Alexander Yakovlev, the spiritual father of perestroika, and Oleg Kalugin, a future KGB general-turned staunch supporter of Boris Yeltsin. were ultimately helpful in the transcendence of communism in the Soviet Union. Both of these men played significant part in it, having had exposure to Western institutions.   

 

We hope Mr. Freburghaus and his school will rethink his position.

 

jvlv.net @JiriLeniValenta Twitter

 

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Letter to a Russian Student applying to a Swiss School

 

“Good Afternoon, Madam!

 

We have assessed your candidacy and we thank you for your trust. Unfortunately, we are not able to consider your resumé positively. Our philosophy impedes us from hiring professors from a country:

 

- where the government illegally occupies the territories of an independent and free state; - which instigates and provokes a civil war in other countries by the means of sending their armed agitators; - whose president is constantly lying and doesn’t respect nor the international law nor the signed agreements; and whose people support their president with an approval rating of 70%;

 

These are our sanctions and our protest against the politics and the war, unleashed by Russia. We wish you every success in your future search, please, accept the assurances of our utmost respect.

 

Martin Freiburghaus, the headmaster”.