Physics professor sacked over prior sexual abuse allegations

The Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Optometry (FMOF) of the University of Latvia (LU) no longer has an employment relationship with Dmitrijs Bočarovs, the lecturer accused of sexual harassment of young women, and there are no plans to renew it, Sandris Lācis, dean of the faculty, confirmed to LETA.

At the end of 2023, the portal "Delfi" and Latvian Radio reported that several young women had come forward with accusations that they had been sexually abused between 2013 and 2019 by camp organizers from the youth organization "K.I.D". Bočarovs was the director of the camp.

Following the information, the FMOF of the University of Latvia asked the Academic Ethics Committee of the University of Latvia to assess whether Bočarovs' past actions could be compatible with his work as a lecturer at the University of Latvia.

Without disclosing the names of the persons involved, the Academic Ethics Committee, in its minutes, says that the lecturer's unacceptable actions in relation to minors are incompatible with academic ethics. Meanwhile, LETA has unofficial information that the Commission's decision is related to Bočarovs.

The lecturer accused of sexual harassment has also left his position as head of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Solid State Physics (CFI) "due to potential reputational risks" for both the institute and himself.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the Public Relations Department of the State Police (VP) told LETA that there are currently no cases in the VP related to the alleged events at the camp, and according to the information in the media, there have been no reports of alleged victims.

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