Academics want Putin’s titles stripped

A group of academics are demanding that honorary degrees awarded by Greek universities to Russian President Vladimir Putin be rescinded in response to his invasion of Ukraine.

“The revocation of honorary academic degrees awarded to Vladimir Putin is today, in the tragic event of the military invasion of Ukraine, an elementary obligation of the university community to its own historical, ideological and cultural identity,”

A matter of self-awareness and of defending European principles and values

“It is also a matter of self-awareness and of defending European principles and values ​​of peace, liberal democracy, security and the rule of law,” he stressed, adding that “silence has no place in the face of our duty to take a strong position against totalitarianism, authoritarianism and violations of international law.”

The decision,according to Kathimerini, had a fair amount of detractors, also from within the university community. Mainly as a result of these reactions, the planned ceremony in Kalamata in the Peloponnese, where the department is located, was postponed.

It was eventually held at the Russian Embassy in Athens, in the presence of George Katrougalos, Greece’s deputy foreign minister at the time.

Greek Foreign Ministry renews call for humanitarian corridors out of Ukrainian cities

The Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday renewed its call on behalf of Greece for the creation of humanitarian corridors leading from Ukrainian cities, in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross, in order to allow food supplies to reach civilians and allow residents to leave for safer areas.

In its statement, the ministry said “we continue to follow with great concern the dramatic developments, especially in the region of Mariupol, where Greek diaspora has been living for centuries and where Consul General Manolis Androulakis remains.”

The ministry called on “everyone to respect humanitarian law and avoid targeting civilians,” adding that Greece is expending every effort toward this.