American expatriate Jozef Schutzman defended Russia’s framing of the Ukraine war during a live video session from Moscow for Bennett University’s Times School of Media on Oct 16, 2026.
Schutzman, a former U.S. correspondent who relocated to Moscow in 2023 after a 24‑hour visit, has lived there with his family for three years, selling all U.S. assets and embracing a life under a regime that he says does not silence dissent.
Times Now Managing Editor Zakka Jacob opened the dialogue by asking whether Schutzman feels free to criticize President Vladimir Putin. He admitted his limited exposure to Russian speakers but insisted that ordinary Russians, especially English‑speaking expatriates, openly criticize the president and that he never feels he must speak in hushed tones.
The students’ reaction was sharply divided; a handful applauded his candidness, while others, echoing the university’s curriculum guidelines, demanded a balanced portrayal of the conflict. The faculty released a statement underscoring the school’s commitment to academic neutrality and announcing a student‑led petition for a more balanced curriculum.
Schutzman's remarks fuel a broader debate over propaganda and the role of foreign voices in Indian academia. The university will convene a panel next week with education experts to review content guidelines, and the petition will be formally presented to the board of trustees.