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University 'forced out' from Budapest

• https://www.bbc.com, Sean Coughlan

"We can no longer operate as a free institution in the city and country we call home," said the president of the Central European University (CEU), Michael Ignatieff.

He described it as a "tragic and serious violation of academic freedom in the heart of Europe".

The Hungarian government has rejected claims that it is an issue of academic freedom - arguing that the university has failed to comply with higher education regulations.

The university, founded by liberal philanthropist George Soros to foster democracy in post-Communist Central Europe, is now moving many of its courses to Vienna.

Mr Ignatieff said it was "unprecedented" that a US-accredited university was being "forced out of a Nato ally country".

"A European institution has been summarily ousted from a European Union member nation," he added.

'Europe is disgraced'

Two US senators, speaking on behalf of the US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, issued a statement condemning the departure.


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