MGIMO Expels Professor for Anti-Azerbaijani Statements

The rectorate of MGIMO has announced the expulsion of Mikhail Alexandrov, a leading expert in military-political studies, due to comments made during a broadcast on a television channel.

According to a statement released on December 17, the professor's statements harm the relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, in which Alexandrov "grossly distorted the objectives and goals of Russian policy towards the neighboring friendly state."

"The unfounded aggressiveness and glaring unprofessionalism of Alexandrov's statements have provoked a highly negative reaction from the foreign policy community, as well as outrage among academics. Significant damage has been inflicted on the university's image and interests. Given the incompatibility of Alexandrov's actions with the status of an MGIMO employee, as well as the established facts of his extreme neglect of official duties, the rector has signed an order to terminate employment relations and expel Alexandrov from the university,” the statement emphasized.

Azerbaijani media have reported that a criminal case has been initiated against Alexandrov in Azerbaijan after he called for "bombing and completely destroying Azerbaijan's entire oil industry and energy system."

Earlier, during a broadcast on RUSARMINFO on December 13, Alexandrov stated: "Aliyev is now trying to use the situation to squeeze out as much territory as possible for himself, particularly changing the status of the Lachin Corridor into a corridor controlled by Azerbaijan. As we can see, so far this hasn't worked, but the matter could lead to a confrontation."

He emphasized that if force were used against peacekeepers, Moscow would be compelled to respond.

"Russia has the means to avoid starting a war with Azerbaijan, to strike at Baku, to bomb Baku's oil industry completely, and to destroy Azerbaijan's energy system with a missile strike. I feel that Azerbaijan is masquerading under the pretext that it has signed a declaration on strategic alliance with us, while acting against it, provoking our peacekeepers. It should be made clear that we may not fight in Nagorno-Karabakh, but bomb the entire energy system, the oil infrastructure, leaving Azerbaijan without oil and electricity," he declared.