Farion reinstated at Lviv Polytechnic: she will receive almost 124 thousand in compensation
11 June 2024 09:25
Iryna Farion has been reinstated as a professor of the Ukrainian Language Department at the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of Lviv Polytechnic National University. In addition, she will be paid UAH 123,927 from the university’s special fund. Farion wrote about this on her Facebook page, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“Dear gentlemen! The truth is a thorny thing and as beautiful as a rose. The struggle for Truth is the core of life. And you and I have been pushing this core for six months with all our might – and we have won. Thank you all for your support: in person, in courtrooms, in an open letter, in public space, at my numerous meetings with you across the country,”
– the linguist wrote.
She published a photo of the order issued by Rector Yuriy Bobalo, which states that she has been reinstated in her position and compensated for this time.
The linguist promised that “more will follow” and that “the customers should be identified and punished.”
The Farion scandal
on 4 November, on the air of the programme ‘Rendezvous with Yanina Sokolova’, Iryna Farion spoke harshly about Russian-speaking Ukrainian soldiers, in particular, the soldiers of the Third Assault Brigade, which was created on the basis of the Azov volunteer group.
On the morning of 7 November, following the interview, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, appealed to the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting regarding discrimination. Although Lubinets did not directly name Farion, his statement was made amidst active discussion of the scandal on social media.
In Lviv, leaflets demanding her dismissal appeared on one of the buildings of the Lviv Polytechnic, where Farion is a lecturer. In response, the administration of Lviv Polytechnic stated that it was not responsible for the statements of its employees outside the university.
on 9 November, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine responded to the situation by expressing support for the students’ demands not to cooperate with people who do not respect the defenders of Ukraine. At the same time, they noted that the decision to appoint and dismiss employees is made by the university itself.
on 13 November, Farion published a screenshot of an email from a student from Crimea who supported her in the language scandal, without hiding his personal information. Lubinets also reacted to this, saying that he had appealed to the SBU because he believed that Farion had not only broken the law but also played along with the occupiers.
The Security Service of Ukraine opened criminal proceedings under four articles and ordered a number of examinations of Farion’s statements and publications.
on 15 November, Lviv Polytechnic fired Farion, terminating her employment contract.
on 7 December 2023, Farion filed a lawsuit challenging her dismissal. She demanded that the dismissal order be declared illegal, that she be reinstated as a professor of the Ukrainian language department, and that her average salary for the period of forced absenteeism be recovered.
on 8 February, the case was considered by the Halytskyi District Court of Lviv under a simplified procedure without summoning the parties. The court refused to reinstate Farion as a professor. She filed an appeal.
on 9 May, the Lviv Court of Appeal began hearing the case on Farion’s reinstatement. The previous hearing was postponed due to the absence of a representative of Lviv Polytechnic.
on 29 May, the Lviv Court of Appeal ruled to reinstate Iryna Farion as a professor of the Ukrainian Language Department of the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of Lviv Polytechnic.
