The University of Peloponnese has decided to remove the title of honorary doctor from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian president had received the relevant title in 2018 from the Department of History, Archeology and Cultural Heritage Management.
According to Kalamata Times, the University's senate, took a unanimous decision to remove the title on the initiative of former PASOK rector, Theodoros Papatheodorou, who helped collect signatures after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In yesterday's post, Papatheodorou stated:
"The Senate of the University of Peloponnese, decided to revoke the title of honorary doctor, which was awarded by the Department of History, Archeology and Cultural Heritage Management, in 2018, to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
"A correct and necessary decision, despite any delay in the relevant procedures.
"Five hundred citizens and signatories from Greece and abroad had supported from March 6, 2022 the request for the revocation of the title.
"A dynamic civil society and university community are finally on the right side of history."
On February 22, 2018, Putin was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Department of History, Archeology and Cultural Heritage Management of the University of Peloponnese "for all his work and for his contribution to Greek-Russian arts, society and democracy," as the foundation said.
The event in Kalamata (where the department is located), took place at the Russian Embassy in our country, in the presence of the then Deputy Foreign Minister George Katrougalos.
As for the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, which in 2001, under the presidency of Babiniotis, awarded Putin the title of honorary doctor, there is no decision to remove the title from the Russian president.