DISINFO: Poland breaks another thread with Russia liquidating the Center of the Russian Culture in Krakow
SUMMARY
One again, the Polish-Russian cooperation in the sphere of science, education and culture has become the victim of intensifying political confrontation, which is unbeneficial for both sides. The politicisation of the sphere of people-to-people contacts is unacceptable.
The decision of Rector Borek [to liquidate the Center of the Russian Culture and Language] shows to everyone that the actions of the University lay outside the legal field. It is a lesson to all the Russian universities, which signed cooperation agreements with this institution [the Pedagogical University of Krakow]. These agreements may be broken at any time, putting the Russian partners in a difficult position.
The Polish side initiated the breaking of another thread of the Russian-Polish humanitarian cooperation.
RESPONSE
This message is a part of the Kremlin’s disinformation narrative about anti-Russian Poland, which is not interested in having good relations with Russia. The claim that the Center of the Russian Culture and Language at the Pedagogical University of Krakow was liquidated as a result of a political decision “laying outside the legal field” is not supported by evidence.
The Rector and Administration of the Pedagogical University of Krakow have full authority to implement all necessary institutional changes and decisions in their institution. At the present moment, the Pedagogical University of Krakow faces substantial restructuration under the supervision of a new University Council. According to the principle of institutional autonomy of Polish universities, they have a right to establish their own organisational structure.
The Polish universities are autonomous educational institutions, which do not take part in any alleged “anti-Russian” activities, staying outside politics.
Practically every large Polish university offers a degree in the Russian language for its students. Read more about various Polish-Russian educational and humanitarian projects on the page of the Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding.
See other messages about the anti-Russian actions allegedly realised by Poland: Constant intimidation with Russia is used to make Poland economically dependent on the USA, the Polish authorities created an insane hysteria of intimidation with Russia, used for the needs of domestic politics and the national security strategy of Poland is a manifestation of traditional Russophobia of the Polish authorities.