Professors, students, activists and others open letter against the decision on ASA

 About 100 university professors, intellectuals, writers, students, activists, non-governmental organizations, etc., inside and outside Albania express concern and solidarity after the approval of the decision of the Council of Ministers for the merger of the Academy of Albanian Studies. In an open letter they publicly express their opposition and disagreement with the decision to ASA. "We, scholars and scientific researchers inside and outside Albania, writers, publicists, journalists, activists, engaged citizens, associations, organizations and various collectives, we followed with deep concern the decision of the Council of Ministers dated May 31, 2023 to close the Academy of Albanian Studies (ASA) and to merge it within the Academy of Sciences. We share our disagreement with this arbitrary and harmful decision for the future of Albanological Studies, which we also consider a violation of academic freedom," the letter states. Among other things, the letter dated June 5 states that all institutions of higher education must be empowered and supported for the development of research and the advancement of scientific knowledge in a decentralized, democratic and academically independent manner. "It is unacceptable that changes and restructuring of such proportions are undertaken unilaterally, without being based on the law, without consulting interest groups, without considering academic interests, and not in accordance with broad public interests. Considering the above, we reiterate our solidarity with the engaged researchers of ASA and support any legal initiative, administrative and social that will be undertaken in defense of this institution and academic freedom in Albania", the letter reads. Among the signatories we mention Adela Demetja artist, curator, Director of Tirana Art Lab; Adrian Paci | artist, lecturer | New Academy of Fine Arts, Milan (New Academy of Fine Arts, Milan); Agata Maria Kochaniewicz | PhD candidate: Social Anthropology | Norwegian University of Science and Technology - NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology - NTNU); Dr. Alment Muho | Philosophy | University of Tirana; Dr. Angelina Hamza-Hasanaj | Anthropology | Albanological Institute, etc. Adrian Paci | artist, lecturer | New Academy of Fine Arts, Milan (New Academy of Fine Arts, Milan); Agata Maria Kochaniewicz | PhD candidate: Social Anthropology | Norwegian University of Science and Technology - NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology - NTNU); Dr. Alment Muho | Philosophy | University of Tirana; Dr. Angelina Hamza-Hasanaj | Anthropology | Albanological Institute, etc. Adrian Paci | artist, lecturer | New Academy of Fine Arts, Milan (New Academy of Fine Arts, Milan); Agata Maria Kochaniewicz | PhD candidate: Social Anthropology | Norwegian University of Science and Technology - NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology - NTNU); Dr. Alment Muho | Philosophy | University of Tirana; Dr. Angelina Hamza-Hasanaj | Anthropology | Albanological Institute, etc.