Professor Boris Havel of the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Zagreb found himself in a contentious position after comments he made on the social media platform X about Maja Sever, an alumnus of the faculty, led to a disciplinary proceeding against him. The comments provoked a significant reaction from students and the wider academic community, ultimately resulting in Havel receiving a formal warning prior to his dismissal, one of the severest punishments imposed within the institution. The case has raised serious questions about academic freedom and the implications of public commentary by faculty members.

The proceedings against Havel emerged in light of a post where he quoted an observer from the Antifa rally “United Against Fascism” regarding Sever. Following the uproar that ensued, both Sever and the Croatian Journalistic Society voiced their concerns, adding to the pressure on the Faculty to act against Havel. Despite multiple requests for documentation concerning the proceedings, including the ruling and ethical opinion, the Faculty refused to release these, citing the ethical code and the need to protect the accused. However, the documents have since been obtained through confidential channels and were published exclusively by Narod.hr, shedding light on the Faculty's actions and the background of the case.

The implications of this ruling extend beyond Havel's personal situation, pointing to broader issues surrounding censorship, the protection of free speech within academic institutions, and the potential chilling effect this case may have on professors' willingness to engage in public discourse. As the situation develops, it will be crucial to monitor its impact on academic environments and the balance between maintaining decorum in public debates while preserving the rights of faculty to express their views without fear of retribution.