News
The Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow has acknowledged that students who agree to sign one-year contracts with Russia’s Ministry of Defense in order to avoid expulsion will not be able to return to their studies after their term of service is complete, despite previous assurances from the university. The admission came in correspondence from Vladimir Krotov, head of the HSE’s Second Department, and was uncovered by human rights activist Artyom Klyga of the Conscientious Objectors’ Movement.
The independent science-focused outlet T-Invariant earlier reported that HSE had offered male students facing expulsion for poor academic performance the option of completing one year of service in drone units “on a voluntary basis” before being readmitted to the university. They were promised they would be released from the military after a year unless they chose to extend their contracts, and that they would serve only in drone units, with transfers to other formations prohibited.
However, in response to questions from rights activist Klyga, HSE administrator Krotov said the students’ service would be performed under a standard, open-ended military contract, which in practice does not allow soldiers to leave at their own request until the end of the war. Krotov also indicated that students who sign such contracts would not be protected from reassignment to other units — including assault formations.
As Klyga summarized the lessons learned from his correspondence with the HSE department head:
“Out of everything that was promised, only the point about payments is true. The one-year contract, guaranteed return to studies, academic leave, and service exclusively in unmanned systems units are all lies. In reality, you could end up on the front lines, including in an assault unit. And in that case, no university degree will help you anymore.”