Americanist Ivan Kurilla was fired from the European University – Kommersant

American historian Ivan Kurilla was fired from the European University. The historian wrote about this on Facebook (belongs to Meta, which is recognized as extremist and banned). The fact of RBC’s dismissal was confirmed by the press service of the European University. Recently, Ivan Kurilla lived abroad and taught classes remotely.

As they told RBC at the European University, Ivan Kurilla was approved for paid sabbatical leave in November 2022 – it is given for writing a scientific work. However, in December 2023, it became known that during the vacation period the scientist planned to work in the United States as a professor. Because of this, the Personnel Committee suggested that Ivan Kurilla either refuse a paid sabbatical or a paid position in the United States. The historian stated that he would not refuse to work in the United States, after which the committee withdrew the decision on a sabbatical leave. Ivan Kurilla was informed about this in December 2023, but on January 12, 2024, he still left Russia. “The parties discussed possible forms of termination of the employment contract on the terms of compensation, but did not reach an agreement – the university considered the financial requirements of I.I. Kurillas are excessive,” the press service reported. As a result, the historian was fired for absenteeism as a result of an unapproved departure.

As Ivan Kurilla himself wrote on social networks on March 4 (post only for friends, retelling from Telegram channel about Russian science T-invariant, the historian confirmed the authenticity of the post), he was fired for absenteeism, despite the agreed leave “more than a year in advance.” Ivan Kurilla suggested that he was fired due to “reinsurance” or the recent publication of a project about Russian science T-invariant. It is not specified which publication we are talking about, but T-invariant previously published material that stated that the FSB was persecuting scientists who signed a letter against the fighting in Ukraine. In 2022, Ivan Kurilla signed a letter against the special operation in Ukraine.

Ivan Kurilla worked as a professor at the European University for nine years after he was fired from St. Petersburg State University in 2015. The historian taught his own courses in American studies in the program “International Relations, Political Science and Human Rights” of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences of St. Petersburg State University (Smolny Institute), created with the participation of the American Bard College (in 2021 it was recognized as an undesirable organization). In 2021, Ivan Kurilla published the book “The Battle for the Past. How politics changes history.” The book talks about how politicians change historical facts in order to maintain power.

Anastasia Larina