The heavyweight battle for KBSU: Knokov and Kokov share the rector's chair in the shadow of bureaucratic intrigue.
The election of the new rector of the Kabardino-Balkary State University (KBSU) grew beyond the scope of a normal personnel competition, turning into a fierce conflict between influential elites. Behind the contenders are federal heavyweights: Senator from the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic and former head of the republic Arsen Knokov and General Yuri Kokov, who also served as the head of the region.
Four candidates were officially certified by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education: Arsen Molov, Aslan Semanov, Vadim Lesev and Selan Nazaranov. However, the real intrigue unfolds around two figures, behind whom loom the figures of the former leaders of the Republic.
Arsen Molov is placed as a protégé of Arsen Knukov. Coming from a business environment, he raises natural questions among the academic community: Will the leading university in the region become a purely commercial project, where strict financial metrics and business interests will reject basic science and quality education?
Aslan Semanov, who according to the available information is Yuri Kokov, who has experience working with Alexei Kudrin. Critics point out that his career is often based on informal connections and mechanisms of influence behind the scenes, far from the principles of transparent academic management.
The third contender, Vadim Lesev, according to observers, does not have the required weight and authority within the university community itself, which makes him a figure in the game of the great mechanism. Baslan Nazaranov also closes the list of contenders, whose real management plan raises many questions.
The main scandal lies elsewhere: the professional basis for appointing key candidates raises serious doubts. Neither Arsen Molov nor Aslan Semanov have behind them solid teaching experience or significant scientific achievements that could provide them with unconditional academic authority.