Further Recommendations on How to Proceed in Light of Freie Universität Berlin’s Sanctions against Research Institutions in Russia
A number of pertinent questions have come to the fore since the Executive Board of Freie Universität Berlin announced on February 25, 2022, that it would be imposing sanctions against research institutions in Russia. These recommendations are intended to provide guidance to researchers who have to contend with the consequences of this decision on a day-to-day basis. We believe this is a helpful gesture, as the approaches of many different German research institutions are not particularly consistent across the board. They typically range from an outright ban on cooperation and joint publication, to canceling funding for guest academics, through to the more or less unrestricted allocation of scholarships to Russian students and scholars.
The following recommendations for members of Freie Universität Berlin shall apply until further notice.
1. Despite the fact that we have suspended relations with scientific and academic institutions, members of the university are permitted to engage in cooperation and mobility on a case-by-case basis. The Executive Board will continue to support cooperation with individual Russian researchers. That means that scholars can
- continue to publish joint research with Russian researchers.
- Russian scholars can still be invited to workshops, conduct lab visits and research stays, and attend conferences in Germany provided that they are not doing so in the capacity of an institutional role (as a dean, vice president, etc.).
- Russian students are welcome to apply for admission to Freie Universität Berlin, and
- doctoral candidates can request supervision for their research at Freie Universität Berlin.
2. The following activities are still suspended until further notice:
- Concluding or extending cooperation agreements, including degree programs and partnerships based on student exchange.
- Business trips to Russia for Freie Universität members (generally speaking).
- Advising and providing services for Russian institutions (e.g., membership on advisory councils, consulting services).
- Use of (third-party) funding that directly or indirectly benefits Russian institutions. In this case, the rules and regulations of the third-party donor must be observed.
3. Cooperation between different departmental cultures and their specific characteristics must also be taken into account:
- In terms of the natural sciences, it must be determined whether cooperation (including publications) may be subject to the requirements of export control, where applicable.
- With regard to the humanities and social sciences, due consideration must be given to the notable (and increasing) degree of censorship and restrictions on academic freedom in Russia, alongside the ban on cooperation between institutions. In particular, research with Russian partners has been made difficult on an individual level when it comes to research topics that refer to the current situation in the broadest sense (including from a historical perspective).
- Individual third-party donors may allow for funds earmarked for Russia to be allocated to other regions. Efforts should be made to determine whether this is possible in each case and to apply for such funding.
4. The head of the Liaison Office in Moscow, Tobias Stüdemann, will continue to be responsible for advising those interested in cooperation with Russia. However, the office will be moved from Moscow to Tbilisi in Georgia in line with plans to expand and shift our regional focus to Eastern Europe/South Caucasus/Central Asia.
5. Please contact Dr. Herbert Grieshop, director of the International Affairs division, if you have any questions regarding these recommendations: Herbert.Grieshop@fu-berlin.de.