Russian university probes Chinese student's display of 'rising sun' flag

Russia's Lomonosov Moscow State University has launched a formal internal investigation after a Chinese student appeared in class draped in a "rising sun" flag, a symbol associated with Japan's wartime aggression, the university's Chinese Students and Scholars Association said in a statement released on Saturday.

A photo showing the student wearing the flag in a classroom recently circulated online, sparking outrage among netizens and overseas Chinese communities.

The association said it had been in contact with university and faculty administrators since the incident occurred on Wednesday, urging them to take the matter seriously and handle it in accordance with laws and university regulations, as well as respond to students' concerns in a timely manner.

"The university has made it clear that the act seriously violates the school's educational principles and disrupts teaching order on campus. It has initiated formal internal review procedures and is expected to announce its conclusions in the near future," the association said, adding that it would promptly share the findings of the investigation.

The association also said it had reported the incident, along with relevant evidence and records of its communications with the university, to the education department of the Chinese Embassy in Russia. It would continue to cooperate with any further investigative procedures, it added.

The association urged Chinese students on campus to express their patriotic feelings rationally and prioritize their personal safety, while avoiding physical confrontations or other forms of escalation.

Founded in 1755, Lomonosov Moscow State University ranked 115th globally and first in Russia in the QS World University Rankings 2027, released by UK-based education information firm Quacquarelli Symonds.