Statement on the recent legislative attack by Hungary’s parliament on Central European University

On April 4, 2017 the Parliament of Hungary passed a law that will make it impossible for Central European University (CEU) to operate in Budapest.

CEU is a flagman educational institution in Central Europe committed to promoting the values of open society and critical thinking. It pursues creation of new knowledge and contributes to the foundation of democracy and human rights. CEU is a role model for other universities in the region including the Kyiv School of Economics.   

We believe that it is our responsibility as academics and practitioners to speak up against the attack on freedom of expression and values of CEU. A closure of CEU would be a step back in time and a strong signal to the world that the political leadership of Hungary is taking the country in a wrong direction. Freedom, openness, and tolerance are the principles that safeguard our societies against abuse of the powerful few and ensure that our societies offer a path prosperity for all.

The attack on CEU is futile. The ideas and the values cannot be banned by a legislative action. We stand united with CEU and we hope for a quick reversal of the legislation.   

Tymofiy Mylovanov, Honorary President of the Kyiv School of Economics

Yuriy Gorodnichenko, Chair of the International Academic Board of the Kyiv School of Economics

Dmytro Hryshko, Associate Professor, University of Alberta

Serhii Liutov, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Oleksandr Zholud, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Mariia Vasyleha, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Smal Oleksandra, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Natalia Shapoval, Vice President for Policy Research, Kyiv School of Economics

Kateryna Bornukova, Belarusian Economic Research and Outreach Center BEROC

Natalia Zaika, Head of Academic Affairs Department at Kyiv School of Economics

Oleksandr Talavera, Swansea University

Ilona Sologoub, Kyiv School of Economics senior economist and graduate

Kostiantyn Zahorulko, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Oleksa Stepaniuk, Data analyst, Kyiv School of Economics

Olena Nizalova, University of Kent, VoxUkraine Editorial Board Member

Oleksandr Sukhomlyn, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Natalia Bystrytska, Project Manager, Kyiv School of Economics

Dmytro Iarovyi, Project Manager, Kyiv School of Economics

Olena Litovska, Kyiv School of Economics

Olga Kupets, Kyiv School of Economics

Mykola Ryzhenkov, Analyst at Kyiv School of Economics

Anton Liutov, MA, Kyiv School of Economic

Yurii Rekrut, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Michael Auten, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Anastasiya Ivanova, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Olga Fariatieva, Kyiv School of Economics

Maryna Tonkoshkur, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Hlin Maloshtan, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Artem Bielykh, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Paul Gregory, Hoover Institution, Stanford, University of Houston

Vadym Volosovych, Associate Professor of international Finance, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Tatyana Silitskaya, Kyiv School of Economics

Oleksii Hamaniuk, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Kateryna Chernoknyzhna, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Dmytro Yablonovskyy, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Anita Molodtsova, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Yaroslav Kudlatskiy, Analyst, Kyiv School of Economics

Roman Neyter, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Dmytro Pokidin, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Vadym Bizyayev, Kyiv School of Economics

Mariia Merkulova, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Inna Sovsun, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Olena Bilan, Editorial board member, VoxUkraine/member of the Board of Directors, Kyiv School of Economics

Lidiia Zhgyr, Training Program Officer, Kyiv School of Economics

Viktor Khanzhyn, PhD, Kyiv School of Economics

Hanna Vakhitova, Assistant Professor, Kyiv School of Economics

Iryna Sobetska, Kyiv School of Economics

Kseniia Alekankina, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Viktoriia Malchenko, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Marta Kuzmyn, Kyiv School of Economics

Volodymyr Vakhitov, Kyiv School of Economics

David Menabdishvili, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Vladyslav Manzhos, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Maxym Chaban, Associate Professor, University of Saskatchewan

Mykyta Sierhieiev, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Sergiy Pysarenko, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Mariia Chebanova, MA student, Kyiv School of Economics

Daryna Pustovoit, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Mykyta Bilyi, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Mariia Panga, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Ievgeniia Iarmosh, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Olexandra Chmel, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Maksym Nikulyak, MA, Kyiv School of Economics

Hlib Vyshlinsky, Executive Director, Centre for Economic Strategy, Board Member, Reanimation Package of Reforms

Roman Shpek, economist

Natalia Kononenko, PhD, Institute of Politic and Ethnic Studies of the NAS of Ukraine

Mykhailo Minakov, University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy

Sergii Meleshchuk, KSE class of 2012

Ludmila Simonova, Senior Accredited member of American Society of Appraisers

Oleksii Pogorelov, President, Ukrainian Media Business Association

Katerina Lisenkova, Head of Economic Modelling, Fraser or Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Borys Davydenko, Editor in Chief VoxUkraine

Sasha Borovik, CEU Prague Librarian 1993, Harvard International Law Journal Submissions Editor 1998, CFO CloudEO 2017

Andrii Kruglashov, PhD., civic activist and strategist

Maksym Ivanyna, Joint Vienna Institute

Borys Trofimov

Anna Kochanova, Max Planck Institute

Valeriy Tertychka

Volodymyr Bilotkach, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Newcastle University

Oleksandr Kharchenko, Managing Director of Energy Industry Research Center

Borys Dodonov, IEA for EU4Energy, Country Expert for Ukraine

Markijan Żelak, European Cooperation Centre

Olena Ivus, Associate Professor, Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, Canada