Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Regional College Denies Burning Books

LearningLark / Flickr

The northwest Russian republic of Komi's Education Ministry has denied that books published with Soros Foundation support were burned at a local college, the Interfax news agency reported Thursday.

The information provided the college director regarding the incineration of 53 books published with the support of the Soros Foundation was was misinterpreted by media outlets, a regional Education Ministry spokesperson said, Interfax reported.

The books have been withdrawn from circulation and stored in a warehouse, Interfax reported. A spokesperson from the college said that it is common practice to incinerate books that have been deemed worn or unnecessary.

Culture Minister Vladimir Medina condemned the reports of book burning and promised to investigate the incident.

In late November 2015, the Soros Foundation was declared “undesirable” in Russia — the Prosecutor General's office stated it was endangering Russia's constitutional order and the country's security. NGOs deemed “undesirable” are obligated to cease operating in Russia.

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