Moscow’s HSE University admits expelled students who sign contracts with the Russian army cannot return to their studies as promised The Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow is now admitting that students who sign one-year contracts with the Ministry of Defense to avoid expulsion will not be able to return to their studies. Previously, HSE had offered male students facing expulsion the option of one year of voluntary service in drone units, with assurances of readmission afterward. However, correspondence reveals these contracts are open-ended, preventing soldiers from leaving until the war ends and leaving them vulnerable to reassignment to assault formations.

• HSE in Moscow has acknowledged that students signing one-year contracts with the Ministry of Defense to avoid expulsion cannot return to studies afterward.
• Previous assurances from HSE suggested students would serve one year in drone units and be readmitted.
• A university administrator confirmed contracts are standard, open-ended military contracts, not limited to one year or drone units.
• Students are not protected from reassignment to other units, including assault formations.
• Human rights activists uncovered these discrepancies through correspondence with HSE.