The performance is over: what was the reason for Grigory Zaslavsky's resignation from the post of rector of GITIS

After ten years of leadership of the Russian Institute of Theater Arts, Grigory Zaslavsky left the post of rector. This became known from the official message of the university on August 4. Olga Ermakova, the institute's chief accountant, has been appointed Acting Director. Shortly before that, an investigation by REN TV was published, which revealed the details of the work of the theatrical alma mater and certain aspects of Zaslavsky's activities. About what personnel changes may be related to and what is happening with theatrical education in Russia, see the Izvestia article.

How Zaslavsky left the post of rector

In May 2026, GITIS announced the election of a rector. The message appeared on the website of the Institute of Theatrical Arts. This procedure is carried out every five years and does not always lead to a change of leadership. However, the situation developed unexpectedly: on August 4, a message appeared on the institution's page stating that Grigory Zaslavsky was leaving the post of rector.

"GITIS Rector Grigory Anatolyevich Zaslavsky has left his post. Today, his statement asking to be relieved of his post was signed by Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova. Olga Olegovna Ermakova, the chief accountant of the institute, has been appointed acting rector of GITIS," the GITIS telegram channel says.

Zaslavsky held the post of rector of the largest theater university in Europe for almost ten years — he was elected to the position in November 2016. He was re-elected in 2021. Among the priorities of his work was the employment of graduates through cooperation with theaters and employers and the expansion of an international presence.

— While teaching at GITIS, I am always at work. We go to festivals. There are many ties with India, China, and Latin America. We worked all the time, producing performances. It seems to me that this is the most important thing for a theater university. The training was in full swing. And now we were recruiting courses. It was a difficult time, and all the faculties survived it. In general, this is very unexpected. I can't even tell you anything about this," theater director Nina Chusova responded to the news of the change of power in an interview with Izvestia.

Another big process is the renovation of the institute. The industry notes that the institution is not in the easiest situation right now.

— The news that Grigory Anatolyevich is leaving the post of rector caused me serious concern. First of all, because GITIS is on the verge of repair. Grigory Anatolyevich carried out the work on his preparation very thoughtfully. And I'm worried about who will come to this place and whether this person will be able to so quickly immerse himself in the operational tasks related to the repair. The issue of infrastructure for GITIS is very acute," said the artistic director of Pokrovka in an interview with Izvestia. The Dmitry Bikvaev Theater.

What questions can there be to the ex-rector of GITIS

The surprises associated with one of the country's leading theater universities did not end there. The story of the unrepaired facade of GITIS was followed by questions about a possible corruption scheme.

According to an investigation by REN TV, which was made public in July 2026, Grigory Zaslavsky's salary exceeded 40 million rubles over several years. The rector's children also received their share. Daughter Asya earned almost 2 million rubles in a few years and only by the end of 2023 ceased to be related to her father's university. The income of his son Mikhail looks more suspicious — 23 thousand rubles over the past year and a half. According to journalists, the head was obliged to notify the Ministry of Culture that he had hired his own children, but did not do so.

This is the tip of the iceberg. According to the same investigation, the ex-rector has now hidden information about the existing real estate from the state — a share in his wife's cottage in Montenegro, where her parents now live. Zaslavsky was required to report to the anti-corruption committee, however, according to journalists, his declaration is not in his home in Montenegro.

A check on the employment of the children of the former rector of GITIS is being conducted, and the validity of their salary is being checked, a source familiar with the circumstances confirmed to Izvestia. According to him, it is too early to talk about the results or possible criminal consequences.

At the same time, lawyer Alexander Burchuk, a former investigator of the Moscow Main Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, stressed that the employment of children in an organization run by their father is a clear conflict of interest that falls under the federal law "On Combating Corruption." According to him, according to the norms of this law, a civil servant, and GITIS is a state budgetary institution, is required to declare property. Violations of the law are a reason for a prosecutor's check, Alexander Burchuk emphasized.

If it turns out that "for example, the children were arranged fictitiously and did not appear at work," then in addition to reimbursing the funds, criminal liability may also be involved, the former investigator emphasized. As for the undeclared property, the Prosecutor General's Office may also file a claim for its seizure, the lawyer stressed.

What is happening with theater education in Russia

This year, theater education in Russia is being discussed not only in connection with the educational process and graduation performances, but also in the context of personnel changes. Another cradle of future actors, the Moscow Art Theater Studio School, has lost its rector. On January 14, 2026, Igor Zolotovitsky, who had headed the university since 2013 and during that time became one of the key figures of the Moscow Art Museum School, died after a serious illness.

On January 23, the Ministry of Culture appointed director Konstantin Bogomolov as acting rector. The decision almost immediately caused a public conflict within the theater community. Some of the graduates and teachers wrote an open letter to the Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova, stating that the position of rector of the Studio School is historically linked to the principle of continuity and should remain with a person who grew up inside the Moscow Art Theater school. The main point of contention was not Bogomolov's qualifications as a director, but his lack of connection with the Moscow Art Theater School as a graduate or teacher.

Already on February 11, Bogomolov asked to be relieved of his duties, and the Ministry of Culture granted the application. Officially, the director left of his own accord.

Almost a month later, on March 6, Konstantin Khabensky was appointed acting rector, who at the same time retained the post of artistic director of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater. His appointment was received much more calmly, although Khabensky, like Bogomolov, is not a graduate of the Studio School. The Moscow Art Theater itself called the decision an opportunity to restore the traditional connection between the theater and its main forge of personnel.

In general, there are complaints about theater education in the capital's universities today, and the participants in the process themselves. Konstantin Bogomolov, in an interview with Izvestia, called one of the key problems "a huge number of dubious courses at non-core universities" that train artists.

— Sometimes they are created, let's be honest, solely for the sake of earning money. Young people are seduced by the dust of the wings, the promises of the stage, assured of their exclusivity, taught superficially, but at the same time inspire a sense of vocation. They are poorly educated, often untalented, and they should be doing other things, but they are seduced by this poison," the director told Izvestia.

In addition to the "golden five", which includes GITIS, the Moscow Art Theater Studio School, VGIK, Shchukinsky and Shchepkin Theater institutes, at least 14 more universities in Moscow are preparing to become artists, not counting private courses.

They produce about 450 young artists every year. Meanwhile, the full—time troupes of state theaters are replenished by units - usually three or four graduates per season, and some theaters have not announced recruitment at all for years. The rest have to rely on entreprises, TV series, independent projects, teaching, or even look for themselves outside the profession.

But the flow of applicants is not drying up. Another admission campaign has been completed in the capital this summer. Social networks were once again filled with videos of the lucky ones who passed the last rounds, and hundreds of confessions from those who failed the competition. In 2026, about 7 thousand people applied to GITIS alone. The competition for the main theater schools in the country is still estimated at dozens of people per place, despite the fact that the labor market has not been able to accept such a large number of graduates for many years. But at GITIS, these worries will probably soon fall on the shoulders of the new rector.

The following people worked on the material: Yvette Nevinnaya, Valeria Chub, Vladislav Trifonov, Victoria Sytnik