The Russian education system is marred by bureaucratic interference, international isolation, and increasing pressure to toe the Kremlin line on politically sensitive topics.
In March 2014, a leading history professor was fired from a Foreign Ministry?affiliated institute for writing an opinion article that compared the imminent annexation of Crimea to Nazi Germany?s seizure of Austria. In May, Putin signed a law that prohibits the ?rehabilitation of Nazism? and the spreading of ?intentionally false information? about the Soviet Union?s World War II actions.
Historians have warned that the new law could be used to punish scholars who are critical of government policies.
Also during the year, the authorities removed more than half of the previously approved school textbooks from the country?s classrooms, leaving much of the market in the hands of a publisher owned by a close Putin associate.
