Peoples’ Friendship University (Russia)

Peoples’ Friendship University (Russia), or RUDN University. A public research university located in Moscow, Russia. It was established in 1960 by a resolution from the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR to help nations to assist countries that had recently achieved independence from colonial powers. The university also acted to further Soviet foreign policy goals in nonaligned countries.

The university focused on catering to non-aligned countries, which were previously known as the “Third World.” The university’s main goal was to train personnel from Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. RUDN University was considered the ‘Oxford‘ of Russia in the mid-1980s due to the fame it achieved within a short period. RUDN University‘s stance on global issues became neutral after the end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Rector Oleg Alexandrovich Yastrebov signed a letter of support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Notable Alumni: Alexei Navalny,

• Rohana Wijeweera (Sri Lankan Marxist–Leninist founder of People’s Liberation Front)
• Ali Khamenei (Supreme Leader of Iran)
• Ilich Ramírez Sánchez (‘Carlos the Jackal‘ of Venezuela)
• Mahmoud Abbas (Leader of the Palestinian Authority)
• Fatima Abdel Mahmoud (Leader of Sudanese Socialist Democratic Union)
• Timoleón Jiménez (Leader of Colombia‘s FARC)
• Porfirio Lobo (President of Honduras)
• Daniel Ortega (President of Nicaragua)
• Bharrat Jagdeo (former president of Guyana)
• Abed Elrahim Abu Zakrra (Sudanese writer)