Okrahomer Posted June 4, 2025 Posted June 4, 2025 I just saw this about BYU. ChatGPT tells me that only one other US college (Bard) has received this great honor. 2
Calm Posted June 4, 2025 Posted June 4, 2025 (edited) Badge of honor as far as I am concerned. Shocker…no reason given. The Carnegie Endowment For International Peace is on the list too, back in 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Organizations_listed_in_Russia_as_undesirable Edited June 4, 2025 by Calm 2
sunstoned Posted June 4, 2025 Posted June 4, 2025 I saw this posted on Reddit by someone who has relatives in Russia. There was no explanation. I can't imagine anything that BYU has done to upset Russia. I'm surprised Russia even concerns itself with US universities. 2
InCognitus Posted June 4, 2025 Posted June 4, 2025 3 hours ago, Okrahomer said: I just saw this about BYU. ChatGPT tells me that only one other US college (Bard) has received this great honor. The article says: "The designation bars the private American university and the German nonprofit from operating in Russia. Under Russian law, individuals found to be affiliated with 'undesirable' organizations face up to four years in prison, while organization leaders risk up to six years." I wonder if this is just another way to prevent the Latter-day Saint "volunteer" status in Russia (since Russia banned proselyting in the country in 2016), and someone who is a BYU alumni could now be construed as having an "affiliation" with the "undesirable" organization, in order to find a way to deter the "volunteers". 1
Calm Posted June 4, 2025 Posted June 4, 2025 It prevents Russians from using Pathways, if that has been allowed. 1
JustAnAustralian Posted June 4, 2025 Posted June 4, 2025 (edited) How affiliated do they mean? I would be sweating if I was in a Bishopric/Branch Presidency or Stake Presidency in Russia right now (given the ecclesiastical endorsement role they have). Edited June 4, 2025 by JustAnAustralian 4
Okrahomer Posted June 4, 2025 Author Posted June 4, 2025 8 hours ago, JustAnAustralian said: How affiliated do they mean? I would be sweating if I was in a Bishopric/Branch Presidency or Stake Presidency in Russia right now (given the ecclesiastical endorsement role they have). Agree, this does create some problems, e.g., Egor Demin -- BYU's terrific Russian basketball phenom from last year. He's all of 19 and no longer at BYU, as he will likely be a 1st round NBA draft choice, so I guess he is now out of danger -- except I think his girlfriend is LDS and a current basketball standout at BYU as well. 1
Doctor Steuss Posted June 4, 2025 Posted June 4, 2025 12 hours ago, sunstoned said: I saw this posted on Reddit by someone who has relatives in Russia. There was no explanation. I can't imagine anything that BYU has done to upset Russia. I'm surprised Russia even concerns itself with US universities. If enough CIA, NSA, DIA, MIC, NGA, NRO, etc., operatives were to have been found to be BYU grads in the intelligence profiles kept by Russia, that could be enough reason to flag the university as a whole. I don't know if the rumors about intelligence and federal law enforcement recruiting from BYU (in particular, from former foreign missionaries) are true, but if they are, that would provide a potential explanation on why it would be singled out. 1
Okrahomer Posted June 4, 2025 Author Posted June 4, 2025 32 minutes ago, Doctor Steuss said: If enough CIA, NSA, DIA, MIC, NGA, NRO, etc., operatives were to have been found to be BYU grads in the intelligence profiles kept by Russia, that could be enough reason to flag the university as a whole. I don't know if the rumors about intelligence and federal law enforcement recruiting from BYU (in particular, from former foreign missionaries) are true, but if they are, that would provide a potential explanation on why it would be singled out. Spy University
Okrahomer Posted June 6, 2025 Author Posted June 6, 2025 The Daily Universe has published a report which seems to fill-in some of the missing details and (at least for me) hints at a more specific reason for the blacklisting. 2
InCognitus Posted June 6, 2025 Posted June 6, 2025 5 hours ago, Okrahomer said: The Daily Universe has published a report which seems to fill-in some of the missing details and (at least for me) hints at a more specific reason for the blacklisting. Hints at, yes. But it is still really puzzling. Thanks for posting the link. 1
The Nehor Posted June 8, 2025 Posted June 8, 2025 On 6/4/2025 at 1:22 AM, JustAnAustralian said: How affiliated do they mean? I would be sweating if I was in a Bishopric/Branch Presidency or Stake Presidency in Russia right now (given the ecclesiastical endorsement role they have). Depends on how badly they want to prosecute you. Authoritarian states as a rule aren’t big on limiting the impact of their laws. 2
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