Politics

In Russia, the first prison sentence for opposing war on religious grounds has been issued

Published

2 years ago

May 14, 2023

A 63-year old Russian Orthodox Christian was the first person ever to be sent to prison for opposing Russia’s war on Ukraine in religious terms. Mikhail Simonov has been accused of spreading “false” information about the Russian military based on “political hate” in two social media posts where he condemned Russian attacks on Kiev, and Mariupol.

In March 2022 he wrote in a social network that “We kill women and children, and sing songs on First TV.” We, Russia, are now godless! Please forgive us, Lord!” This publication became the basis for his accusation.

A Moscow court sentenced Mikhail Simonov on March 30, 2023 to seven years of prison, followed four years later by an internet ban. He is currently in the pre-trial jail No. Since November 2022, he has been in pre-trial prison No. M. Simonov requested that he be placed under house-arrest due to his poor health – hypertonic crises; headaches; loss of consciousness and coronary heart disease. His defense request was rejected and he remains in pre trial detention in Moscow, pending an appeal.

Mihail Simonov faces charges under Art. Vladimir Putin signed 207.3 of the Criminal Code in March 2022 shortly after the Russian invasion.

Art. 20.3.3 Administrative Code “Public actions intended to discredit the use of armed forces in the Russian Federation.”

Two more Orthodox Christians are being tried for their religious opposition against Russia’s war in Ukraine. One is Fr. Ioan Kurmoyarov has been held in pre-trial custody since June 2022 due to a video where he claims that there is no holy warfare in Orthodoxy and only peacemakers go to heaven. He was arrested after the Anti-Sectarian Service of Western Vicariate of Moscow City Diocese received a tip-off. His trial is set for April 25. The second case involves the Orthodox Christian music teacher Anna Chagina. On March 22, 2022 she silently held up a poster that quoted the Gospel: “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9). The court in Tomsk is hearing the case against her.

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Petar Gramatikov

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Politics

MSCA awards €608.6 million for doctoral programmes

Published

6 hours ago

April 3, 2025

Mike Vulpo

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The European Commission has announced the results of the 2024 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks call.

The Commission will fund a total of 149 excellent doctoral programmes with €608.6 million to train over 1800 doctoral candidates in and outside academia.

€536.9 million will be awarded to 133 standard Doctoral programmes, to train PhD candidates and develop their skills.

Funding includes also €26 million for 8 Industrial Doctoral programmes to train PhD candidates and develop their skills outside academia, including in industry and business. Doctoral candidates will also benefit from joint industry-academia supervision.

An additional €33 million will be allocated to 8 Joint Doctoral programmes, which promote joint selection, training and supervision leading to joint or multiple doctoral degrees.

The European Research Executive Agency (REA) received 1,417 applications for this call. This means a success rate of 10.6 %.

Close collaboration beyond academia

These doctoral programmes are implemented by international partnerships, involving 9335 organisations in 130 countries in the EU, Horizon Europe associated countries and beyond. 4725 of these are private for-profit entities.

Selected projects are coordinated by organisations in 18 countries.

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Mike Vulpo

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Politics

36 000 free EU travel passes for 18-year-olds

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6 hours ago

April 3, 2025

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