DHAKA: One of Russia’s most prestigious universities faced accusations Tuesday of ‘political censorship’ after it sacked a prominent professor for comparing Russia’s takeover of Crimea to Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria.

The Moscow State Institute of International Affairs (MGIMO), which is run by the Russian foreign ministry, on Monday said it had dismissed philosophy professor Andrei Zubov for his public criticism of Russia`s actions in Ukraine’s Crimea region.

Prof Zubov on March 1 published an opinion piece in Vedomosti business daily where he compared Russia’s absorption of Crimea with the Anschluss of 1938 when Nazi Germany annexed Austria. MGIMO said in a statement that it had terminated his contract and dismissed him from the university.

The university said that Zubov’s ‘statements on the events in Ukraine and Russia’s foreign policy cause outrage and bewilderment within the university’, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1606 HRS, MAR 25, 2014