Professors of the Faculty of Literature of Coimbra criticize the dismissal of a Russian professor

About 60 professors from the Faculty of Literature at the University of Coimbra (FLUC) criticized in a petition the manner in which the director of the Center for Russian Studies was fired and defended the investigation process carried out by the rector.

Through the document “For the right to an adversarial process and the presumption of innocence”, the professors stated that they “bewilderedly” became aware of the “self-dismissal” of Vladimir Plyasov, director of the Center for Russian Studies, without conducting an investigation, “which would allow him to respond to the charges against him “.

Two Ukrainian activists accused Volodymyr Plyasov of “Russian propaganda” in an opinion piece published in the Jornal de Proença and later reproduced by the Observador newspaper, which later claimed on Rádio Renascenca that the Russian teacher was a former KGB agent.

“Regardless of other aspects, the signatories of this document believe that the situation sets an unacceptable precedent that could jeopardize the relationship of respect and trust between the University of Coimbra and its staff, as well as call into question the basic principles of law. and citizenship,” the teachers said in a petition that Lusa had access to.

The document was delivered on Wednesday to the Rector of the University of Coimbra, and a copy was also addressed to the Director of the Faculty of Literature.

The professors felt that the process of dismissal “due to the seriousness of the allegations under consideration will require at least a process of investigation and ascertainment by the university of the facts that formed the basis for the measures taken.”

“The absence of such procedures sets an unacceptable precedent and violates the professor’s most basic right to be heard and to be able to publicly rebut the accusations leveled against him without a minimum of controversy and respect for the presumption of innocence.”

Among the subscribers are several course leaders (bachelors, masters and doctoral students) of FLUC, as well as Deputy Director of the Faculty of Literature Ana Peixinho, Deputy Director of the Department of Philosophy, Communication and Information Ines Amaral and Director of the Department of Languages, Literature and Culture Paula Barata Diaz.

Former Vice-Chancellors Joaquim Ramos de Carvalho and Clara Almeida Santos, Writer and Translator Federico Lourenço (who directs the Classical Studies Course), Former Director of the General Library of the University of Coimbra, João Gouveia Monteiro, Vice-President – Coordinator of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the 20th Century Luis Trindade, FLUC Deputy Directors Rute Soares and Alberto Sismondini are some of the names that signed the petition.

Lusa attempted to seek clarification from the Director of the Faculty of Literature, who declined to comment on the case, following a meeting of the institution’s Academic Council, where some members also declined to make any statements about the institution’s possible decisions. body.

A day after the resignation of Vladimir Plyasov, the rector of the University of Coimbra, Amilcar Falcao, refused to disclose the alleged facts that led to the resignation of this Russian professor, saying that this process was not and should not have been associated with any disciplinary process. .

“My decisions are reasoned and always take time to mature. Therefore, what I consider important is contained in the press release of the University of Coimbra,” he added.

In that statement, UC mentioned that it had been confirmed that the activities of the Center for Russian Studies “would go beyond” the exclusive teaching of Russian language and literature, without explaining how.