The Russian Orthodox Church supported an Orthodox university’s refusal to issue a degree to a student who changed gender

Early February, Novaya Gazeta. Europe” reported that an unnamed Orthodox university refused to graduate under a new name to a student who changed gender. Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, commenting on this information, declared RIA Novosti, which supports the university’s decision.

“That (the failure to issue a degree) is within the competence of the university. I can only say that I support the position of the administration, ”said Kozlov, answering the question whether there is such a conflict between the student and the university and how it is resolved.

February 6 Novaya Gazeta. Europe” published information about Yaroslav, a former student of an unnamed Orthodox university. He told the publication that some time after graduation he decided to transition as a transgender and in 2022 replaced his birth certificate and other documents, including a passport.

After Yaroslav asked the university to graduate him under a new name, he was refused and said that they had a negative attitude towards gender reassignment. At the University of Novaya Gazeta. Europe” also explained that they refused to change Yaroslav’s degree, because he had changed “not his name, but his gender”.

After that, the young man filed a lawsuit against the university. At the same time, as Novaya Gazeta notes. Europe,” Rosobrnadzor sided with Yaroslav and noted that the university’s decision is not based on current legislation.