Ulyanovsk Students Told Not to Protest

Students at universities in Russia’s Ulyanovsk oblast have been requested to ensure that the presidential candidates “with experience running the country” be given support, Kommersant reported Feb. 21.

The leadership of Ulyanovsk Higher Aviation College (UHAC) has been requested not to let students take part in protest rallies, according to Higher Education Association President Boris Levin. Representatives of the UHAC have confirmed that they “regularly report on the issue.” 

Kommersant has released a copy of a letter signed by Levin, who requests the universities “organize clarification meetings” with students, where, “according to the policy of the Russian Transportation Union,” they would be explained the importance of “supporting presidential candidates, who have real support of the public and have great experience running the country.”

The letter has tables attached to it, demonstrating the disadvantages of campaign programs of all presidential candidates, except former president and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The universities have been told to take “preventive measures, which would obstruct thoughtless actions taken by the youth, including taking part in protest rallies, organized by populist politicians and organizations.” 

According to Irina Gracheva, a senior specialist in the Moscow State University public relations department, the initiative to send out letters to education institutions came from the Russian Transportation Union (RTU), which is a part of the All-Russia National Front, according to Kommersant. In January this year, the RTU passed a resolution, saying that only Vladimir Putin “is able to face the most difficult challenges of the modern times, similar to those in the early 2000’s.” The RTU has refused to answer Kommersant’s questions.  

Chairman of the Inter-Regional Union of Voters Andrey Buzin said that such actions can be observed in many of Russia’s regions. In his words, such disguised campaigning, coming from education officials, is a violation of the Election Code.