Support The Moscow Times!

Russian University Screens Film Telling Students That Navalny Is Hitler 2.0

Alexei Navalny / Instagram

The most recent protests were more than three weeks ago, but Russian educators are still bending over backwards to warn their pupils about the dangers of joining Alexei Navalny’s nationwide anti-corruption movement.

This Tuesday, Vladimir State University packed an auditorium with students and showed them a short film comparing Navalny to Adolf Hitler, followed by a lecture from Alla Byba, the head of a regional anti-extremism school. In what has become a familiar routine over the past month, Byba chastised and insulted the young people in the room for showing interest in Navalny and for daring to challenge her presentation of his politics.

“First of all, you must understand perfectly well that there are the political ambitions of a certain circle of people at play here,” Byba told her captive audience. “You’re also aware that every teacher in every class right now is talking about how there’s a targeted war going on against the Russian Federation. Information war, cyberwar, and they’re betting on the youth. It’s not for nothing that the Internet is used for very intense recruiting efforts by terrorist organizations.”

When students in the crowd started criticizing the film and her remarks, Byba denied that she had come to indoctrinate anyone, saying the university had merely invited her to speak.

“Nobody here is imposing a position,” Byba insisted. “At the very start of this meeting, we said everyone should have their own opinion. You just need to do a little thinking — most of all, about your own safety and the safety of the people close to you.”

But when students asked to see Navalny’s video detailing corruption allegations against Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Byba flatly refused, pretending not to understand why they wished to see it.

And when a student called her a liar, Byba became infuriated, responding, “Your behavior is disgusting. You have no sense of tact at all, and it saddens me that you’re such a ill-bred person.”

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more