Today the Council of University Rectors of the Chelyabinsk Region has held a meeting chaired by the SUSU Rector Aleksandr Shestakov. Only one issue has been on the agenda: the support of the recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, and of the conducting of the special operation in Ukraine. The Council of Rectors has come to a decision and has made a public statement:
"We support the policy of the President Vladimir Putin and the Government of the Russian Federation focused on putting an end to years-long systematic extermination of Donbas civilians. Russia did not begin the war, we are ending it. Our Fatherland has every right to take retaliatory measures to ensure our safety.
NATO's experiments and indifferent silence of the Western community that is what has caused the humanitarian and political disaster in Ukraine. We condemn the hostile rhetoric, actions, and threats of the world community, which are directed against Russia and which continue to encourage the criminal Kiev regime to exterminate their own population.
We appeal to the academic and administrative staff, postgraduates and students of Russian and foreign universities not to succumb to lies and unreliable rumour, which are circulated by the forces interested in the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. What we need now is to remember that we have a common history, traditions and values, and to be governed by common sense when we try to understand this situation, and also to help people who look to our country for protection against the bloodshed.
We express our solidarity with the citizens of Donbas and we offer our helping hand. We are ready to provide the humanitarian assistance to universities in Donbas, and to welcome the teaching staff and students from the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic and put in place all the necessary arrangements for living, working and studying.
We will do all that is in our power in the name of triumph of Justice and Peace."