Russian flag at TRU IDays causes disbelief among Ukrainian population

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson Rivers University (TRU) International Days event wrapped up over the weekend. More than 100 countries are represented among the students and facility at the university and IDays allows those cultures to be presented in Kamloops. On Friday (March 10), TRU held a flag parade from the middle of campus to the gym. That parade included the red, white and blue flag of Russia and Kamloops’ Ukrainain population is upset over the inclusion.

It has been 383 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. According to a statistic from the United Nations, 8,000 non-combatants have been confirmed killed, with 13,000 more injured. It’s those attacks on innocent lives that has the local Ukrainian population enraged about Russia’s flag flying on campus.

“Seeing that their school showing such level of disrespect to the community, such level of disrespect to the world who stand with Ukraine. Saying this is TRU World? No, TRU World needs to be better,” said Ukrainian TRU Professor Oleksandr Kondrashov.

TRU provided a statement to CFJC News saying ,”TRU celebrates this diversity by flying the flags of the countries our students come from.”

The emailed statement continued, “This includes students from Russia who do not agree with the actions of their government. We continue to condemn the war in Ukraine. World events can often cause concern and can bring into question our practice of flying flags. TRU’s desire remains to celebrate each of our students, regardless of their country of origin.”

Kondrashov received the same response from the university but feels it falls short.

“Yes, diversity and inclusion is critical for our future — however, also equity and social justice. The idea of what is appropriate at the time of war when people are dying because that flag comes to Ukraine, every single day more people die,” said Kondrashov.

While he respects the students rights to celebrate their heritage, Kondrashov hopes this will help create new conversations at the university around the ongoing conflict.

“I fully understand where people want to promote their heritage and culture. That’s okay. In a time of war, when that flag is bringing terror to the people, it is inappropriate. You cannot continue practices which might be okay. In a peaceful time, that’s fine — people should be proud of their culture, of where they come from, origin. But in the war, Russian protest has a different flag,” stated Kondrashov.