Italian students up in arms over honorary fellowship for Russian minister

More than 100 students and staff at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice have signed an open letter to protest the university’s decision to present Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky with an honorary fellowship.

The university’s failure to publicly announce the decision until just days before the ceremony was set to take place on Monday has provoked an outcry from academics and students alike. Those opposed to the decision cited Medinsky’s illiberal views on a range of subjects from homosexuality to Pussy Riot.

In a blogpost, Professor Filippomaria Pontani, one of the leaders of the protest, wrote: “I just wonder if those in charge considered the positions publicly taken by Medinsky, for example, the fact that Russia is the last bastion of real European culture and true Christian values against the degeneration and corruption of the west.”

Pontani linked to a number of articles outlining the minister’s opinions which include denying that composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky was gay, describing Pussy Riot as “hooligans” and a pledge to show no more than 20% of foreign films in Russian cinemas. He added: “I have the suspicion that if a teacher at Ca’ Foscari displayed any of these arguments, he would be subject to checks and an investigation at the very least.”

This scandal comes on the heels of an incident earlier last month, which saw noted architecture critic and journalist Grigory Revzin fired by Medinsky from his position of commissioner of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Although not confirmed by the Ministry of Culture, Revzin linked the move to his critique of President Vladimir Putin’s position on Ukraine and Crimea.

A university spokesperson has insisted that Medinsky’s visit was postponed due to an “agenda clash”, however some have speculated that the ceremony will be cancelled altogether.