Bernt Schnettler

Bernt Schnettler is a sociologist and professor at the University of Bayreuth. He is currently newsworthy due to his public support for Ilja Schkolnyj, a Russian student facing deportation from Germany. Schkolnyj, described as a member of the Russian opposition and married to a German citizen, is in deportation detention in Bavaria and potentially faces conscription into the Russian army if returned to Russia. Schnettler has spoken highly of Schkolnyj, characterizing him as an outstanding, intelligent, diligent, and research-oriented student. Schnettler's statements highlight the potential loss of a promising researcher and the ethical concerns surrounding the deportation of a political opponent to a country where he may face persecution or forced military service.