President of the EUASU Prof. Jerome Krase on the case of scientist Dr. Oleg Maltsev.
My name is Jerome Krase. And I'm Emeritus professor and Murray Koppelman professor at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.
I have known Dr. Oleg Maltsev since 2020, when I was invited to participate in several online scientific forums and events, which were later organized by the European Academy of Science of Ukraine. During that period, I took part in a number of online conferences. For example, in one of them, I presented my ideas on the commodification of consumers, and we had discussions and even debates, with Oleg being part of those. I probably participated in 4 or 5 of these events, including being interviewed by Dr. Maltsev multiple times about my work in sociology, particularly visual sociology. Later, I made several remote presentations for Academy members and was introduced to various scientific journals and magazines in Ukraine. I was very happy to contribute.
Then I was asked to become the President of the EUASU Academy, which was not about active development but rather focused on representing the Academy. I was very glad to help because, after Russia’s illegal criminal invasion of Ukraine, Maltsev and I felt that Ukrainian scholars were struggling to connect with the outside world, and it would become even more difficult as time went on. I was happy to take on this responsibility and participated in a number of initiatives.
I have to state that, as far as his scientific work is concerned, I think it’s excellent and unique. He’s an interesting character with many different points of view and a wide range of activities. This puts him, at least from my point of view, in a kind of special space in scholarly activities. It’s unusual and different, and because it’s unusual and different, it brings forth certain ideas that would ordinarily be missed.
I was especially impressed by the book he wrote about Jean Baudrillard, titled Maestro. Jean Baudrillard. The Last Prophet of Europe. I actually wrote a review of it, and it was a glowing review. I thought this work was really very good. Additionally, I have written a preface for a new book coming out soon, titled Strike in the Deadliest Manner Possible, which addresses war crimes in Ukraine.
I also invited him to participate in a conference “Local and Global Impacts of the War in Ukraine” that I co-organized with Charles University in Prague, which was supported by the United States Fulbright Foundation. Oleg presented remotely due to the difficulties in Ukraine. At that time, there were some Russian attacks in that area, making it very challenging for the group of Ukrainian scientists to participate. However, they found a way to do it, which demonstrates a great deal of courage and scientific commitment. I also participated in two special issues of the American Behavioral Scientist, where his work was published and received considerable praise.
The idea that Oleg Maltsev would in any way support the criminal activities of Russia in Ukraine or anywhere else in the world is totally absurd. Everything I’ve read in his works and every conversation I’ve had with him about these activities has been entirely negative—he is even more negative than I am. He is completely against it. In fact, one of the topics he writes about is the Wagner Group, which is an excellent piece that explains this kind of criminal activity and how it originates in Russia.
I am unaware of any reason why he would be in any kind of trouble or why he is being detained. I consider him a close colleague and friend, and I am very supportive of him. I assume that once this investigation is complete, he will be absolved, as that is the only way justice should take place. I wish him all the best.
Oleg, if you get to read this, you know, I'm rooting for you. I'm supporting you and I wish you all the best!
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Prof. Dr. Jerome Krase – Emeritus professor and Murray Koppelman professor at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. He is the President of the European Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Expert in sociology, gentrification in Brooklyn, Brooklyn ethnic groups, Italian-American politics, culture, race, class, urban life and Ethnicity in New York. His recent books include COVID-19 in Brooklyn: Everyday Life During a Pandemic (2023) and Race, Class, and Gentrification in Brooklyn: A View from the Street (2016). He is a public activist-scholar and serves as a consultant to public and private agencies regarding urban community issues. Co-Editor of Urbanities, and Editorial Board Member of Visual Studies, and CIDADES.