Russia blacklists the Vienna Institute!
The Russian Ministry of Justice has officially announced that the "Institute for Human Sciences" (Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen - IWM) in Vienna is an "undesirable organization," meaning that any cooperation with it within Russia has now become a legal offense. This step, which the Prosecutor General's Office in Moscow hinted at last May, could lead to criminal penalties for those who violate the decision.
With this decision, IWM became the second Austrian institution to be classified on this list after the "Central European University" (CEU), which was placed on the list in 2023. The Russian prosecution accused the institute of operating under the influence of Western intelligence agencies and of "distorting facts" to portray Russia as an aggressor state, and claimed that some individuals associated with the institute called for supporting the arming of what they described as "neo-Nazis in Kyiv" and encouraged attacks on civilians.
The institute, which was founded in 1982 and promotes scientific exchange on political, social, and cultural developments, especially in Eastern Europe, denied these accusations. Its spokesperson confirmed the institute's commitment to the values of democracy, dialogue, and scientific research, noting that the safety of individuals and institutions associated with it is a priority at this stage.
By placing IWM on the blacklist, the institute has become one of 232 international institutions banned in Russia since 2015. This list often includes Western think tanks and Russian media in exile. The Russian authorities consider even sharing an article from the institute on social media as a form of 'cooperation', which can be punished with a fine or imprisonment for up to four years in case of repetition. Those who provide financial or organizational support may face harsher penalties.
Individuals associated with the institute, especially those with family ties in Russia, face direct danger if they travel there. Additionally, the circulation or sale of any scientific works produced in collaboration with the institute in Russian libraries or bookstores is prohibited, representing a new cultural and academic blow amid the rising Russian restrictions on freedom of expression and international cooperation.