Russian universities are scrambling to erase evidence of decades-long partnerships with Yale University after Moscow designated the Ivy League institution as an “undesirable organization” in early July. T-invariant, an independent media outlet and platform founded by Russian-speaking scientists, documented how prestigious institutions, including Moscow State University, the Higher School of Economics, and St. Petersburg State University, are purging cooperation records — some dating back 30 years. Yale is also removing references to Russian partnerships from its own platforms.

Yale’s “undesirable” status criminalizes any ongoing association with the university. When announcing the designation, Russian authorities accused Yale of training opposition leaders and undermining Russia’s territorial integrity, specifically citing the late opposition figure Alexey Navalny’s 2010 fellowship at the university. Under Russian law, studying at Yale now carries potential administrative fines for first-time offenses and up to six years in prison for repeat violations. Paying tuition to Yale constitutes an even more serious crime — financing an “undesirable organization” — with no administrative buffer period.

Russia’s 2015 “undesirable organizations” law has expanded to blacklist more than 240 foreign entities, including media outlets, NGOs, and now three American universities: Yale University (July 2025), Bard College (2021), and Brigham Young University (April 2025). The legislation operates retroactively, meaning Russians risk prosecution for old social media posts that link to Yale content. Human rights lawyers warn this will drive Russian graduates away permanently, depriving the country of Western-educated talent while forcing current students to choose between their education and their freedom to return home.