BASEES Statement of Support for ASSEES

BASEES Statement on the designation of ASEEES as an ‘undesirable organisation’ by the Russian Ministry of Justice

On 3 June 2025, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation added the Association for Slavic, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) to its list of ‘undesirable organisations’. This designation means that ASEEES is banned from undertaking any activities within Russia, and that Russian citizens involved with ASEEES in any way may face criminal charges.

ASEEES exists to promote knowledge and understanding of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia, providing members with opportunities to exchange ideas and develop networks. It is deeply regrettable that citizens of the Russian Federation are being deprived of the chance to interact with colleagues elsewhere; this move also represents a loss for the international research community in our field at a time when serious scholarly enquiry that leads to a fuller understanding of the region is of crucial importance.

The British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies (BASEES) wishes to express its full solidarity with ASEEES in response to this attack on academic freedom by the Russian government.