June 09, 2023

Fired for Fighting Ruscism


Fired for Fighting Ruscism
View from the Neva to the University embankment. The old building of St. Petersburg State University. Andrey Korzun, Wikimedia Commons.

St. Petersburg State University (SPbGU) fired Mikhail Belousov, an assistant professor at the Institute of History, for saying that “direct and open approval of ruscism is disgusting.” 

The university published its dismissal order on its website, saying Belousov propagated "materials discrediting the conduct of a special military operation by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, as well as materials insulting the memory of persons who died in the line of military duty."

Screenshots of the historian’s messages sparked conflict following news of the death of Fyodor Solomon, a student at SPbGU who fought in the war. Students and faculty organized commemorative events in Solomonov’s honor. Belousov implored faculty members to fight ruscism: “This is the ‘red line’: ‘sometimes it’s better to chew than to talk.’”

Many pro-Russian government Telegram channels, according to ASTRA, publicly condemned Belousov for his “shameful heresy,” saying that “he is far from alone” in his fight against ruscism, and that “many students of the university openly mocked the death of Fyodor Solomonov.” The channels had called for Belousov's removal.

Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Konstantin Mogilevsky strongly criticized the situation arising from Belousov's anti-war statements, describing it as "deplorable and unacceptable."

“As a historian, I know that the faculty of history at St Petersburg State University is one of the best in our country," Mogilevsky said. "Professionals with a civil position work here, people who are not included in the small group that staged this provocation.” Mogilevsky said he believes that Belousov and his students "cannot boast of any serious achievements in their studies and scientific activities."

You Might Also Like

Renaming Russia?
  • March 15, 2023

Renaming Russia?

A Ukrainian petition calls for the renaming of Russia to Moscovia. 
A Ban on Russian
  • February 01, 2023

A Ban on Russian

Kyiv-Mohlya Academy has banned the Russian language inside the institution.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955