Russia’s St Petersburg University students cheer for professor who was jailed for anti-war protests

The rare moments were captured on camera and have won hearts online. The video shared by Ukrainian journalist Matthew Luxmoore shows a young man hugging Skopin. Students gathered outside the University are seen applauding. As he moves away, they are seen cheering out loud expressing their admiration and love for his courageous act.

Luxmoore’s tweet said that Skopin spent 10 days in jail. “Extraordinary moment as students at Russia’s oldest university in St Petersburg applaud and cheer a professor who has been fired for taking part in anti-war protests. Denis Skopin spent 10 days in jail and was given a summons to the military recruitment office.”

Watch the video here:

Extraordinary moment as students at Russia’s oldest university in St Petersburg applaud and cheer a professor who has been fired for taking part in anti-war protests. Denis Skopin spent 10 days in jail and was given a summons to the military recruitment office. pic.twitter.com/3LV3vuKFqu

— Matthew Luxmoore (@mjluxmoore) October 26, 2022

As per a translated Doxa report, Skopin took part in an anti-mobilisation rally on September 21. Along with other protesters, imprisoned Skopin was persuaded to submit a summons to the military registration and enlistment office.

The university’s order on Skopin’s dismissal as per the Doxa report read, “the act committed by the employee is immoral and incompatible with the implementation of educational functions and the continuation of this work.”