Longtime Russian Presidential Academy head Vladimir Mau resigns after reportedly going to Israel

Economist Vladimir Mau, who has served as the rector of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) since its founding in 2010, has resigned from his post, the Russian government reported on Monday.

“Vladimir Mau […] has been relieved of his position at his own request for health reasons,” reads the announcement.

Shortly after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Mau signed an open letter expressing support for the war. Then, in June, authorities charged him with large-scale embezzlement and placed him on house arrest, sending shockwaves through Russian academia, though the charges were later dropped.

Last week, Russian state media reported that Mau had gone to Israel several months earlier and had yet to return.