University of Coimbra fires director of Russian studies center for pro-Putin propaganda

The University of Coimbra dismissed the director of the Center for Russian Studies at the Faculty of Letters, Vladimir Pliasov, after two Ukrainian activists denounced the fact that pro-Putin propaganda was being spread in favor of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Olga Filipova and Viacheslav Medviedev, both former students of the institution, accuse, in an opinion article published in the Jornal Proença and in the Observer, the University of Coimbra of being “a space to transmit Russian imperial propaganda and the culture that created modern Russia” .

The case also gained media coverage after José Milhazes addressed the topic on SIC.

“They promote authors who defend the subjugation of Ukraine and support the war”, accused the commentator.

The rector of the university told Rádio Renascença that the seriousness of the case forced him to dismiss Vladimir Pliasov, whose existence under the contract was not made with his knowledge, he made a point of underlining Amílcar Falcão.

“As soon as I took care of what was going on, I gave indications for the termination of the contract and, therefore, the contract at this time must already be terminated”, he said.