Appeal to academic community and intellectual elite in view of Russian aggression against Ukraine

On behalf of the representative institutions of science and higher education and the signed institutions of science, we appeal to academic community and intellectual elite to take all measures to peacefully end the escalating military aggression in Ukraine.

We respect and support the exemplary attitude of the participants of the peace protests and the signatories of the  Open letter of Russian scientists and science journalists against the war with Ukraine, published on 24 February 2022.

We believe that international research cooperation should be global and apolitical. Thus, it cannot serve to support any military actions of countries that threaten the existence of other independent states.

Therefore, we appeal to the Polish research community, Polish universities and units of the Polish Academy of Sciences to cease any cooperation with any governmental organization of the Russian Federation or any other country that supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while assuring our support and assistance to those scientists and members of the Russian academic community who oppose this aggression.

We believe that mutual trust, respect for academic values and the peaceful use of the results of joint research, as well as unequivocal recognition of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, are indispensable conditions for the continuation of cooperation between academic communities.

Professor Arkadiusz Mężyk – President of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland
Professor Marcin Pałys – President of the Main Council for Science and Higher Education
Professor Jerzy Duszyński – President of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Professor Dariusz Surowik – President of the Conference of Rectors of Public Vocational Schools
Professor Waldemar Tłokiński – President of the Conference of Rectors of Polish Vocational Schools
Jarosław Olszewski – President of the National Representation of PhD Students
Dr Igor Kilanowski – President of the Young Scientists Council
Mateusz Grochowski – President of the Students’ Parliament of the Republic of Poland
Dr Jacek Kolanowski – President of the Polish Young Academy