Oxford publisher declines comment on schoolbook Crimea mistake

Geography textbooks listing the peninsula part of Russia recalled from bookstores

Last year, the Oxford University Press published a fourth edition of the geography schoolbook called Geog.3, where in the chapter ‘Meet Russia’, Crimea peninsula was labelled as Russian territory. The book literally said:

“Note the two small exclaves of Russia: the one next to Lithuania is called Kaliningrad, the other is Crimea, which Russia took from Ukraine in 2014.”

We came to Oxford to ask the Oxford University Press directly how did it happen that the schoolbook contains inaccurate information, which does not reflect the generally accepted position of the international community and the official position of the government of the United Kingdom.

On March 27, 2014, immediately following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution affirming its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The resolution was supported by 100 states, including the United Kingdom.

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When the schoolbook mistake was first noticed in October of 2015, the Ukrainian embassy in London was quick to react:

Oksana Kyzyma, Press-Secretary of the Ukrainian Embassy in the United Kingdom: “After our letter and a wave of criticism from customers, public activists, experts and diplomats, the OUP assured us that the textbooks were not being sold anymore. They also pledged to issue an updated textbook, which would reflect correct information about Crimea.”

Our goal in Oxford was not only to ask why did the Oxford University Press indicate Crimea as part of Russia, but also to find out when the new version of the geography textbook will be issued.

First, we decided to make a stop at the flagship bookstore of the Oxford University Press. We found Geog.1 and 2, but not Geog.3. We asked the salesperson about its location.

The store clerk in Oxford University Press book store told us that the book in question, Geog.3, was recalled. But the information when the new edition will be published is still unavailable. We will go to Oxford University press office to find out when the new book will be published.

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Before we chose to head off to the Oxford University press we requested an on-camera comment from the publisher. Our request was denied, and we were referred to the previously-issued online statement on this matter. But we are not willing to back down.

These are the publishing offices of Oxford University Press, so we will go inside right now and try to talk to someone about the geography schoolbook.

Dan Silinger was the press-officer of Oxford University Press who rejected our request for comment.

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It seemed like the receptionist was aware of our upcoming visit. It wasn’t surprising not to have Mr. Salinger or anyone else from the Oxford University Press issue an on-camera statement.

We have just been told in the offices of Oxford University publishing house that nobody in the entire press department is available to comment on the situation with the Geography schoolbook. We are leaving this office with no comment apart form the official statement on the website of Oxford University Press.

The statement on the website, dated October 17, 2015, is very brief. It doesn’t answer any questions that we had in mind in regards to this matter. In our subsequent correspondence with Oxford University Press we only learned the new version of the book will be published some time in February. We will certainly follow this story very closely in the coming weeks.

This is Volodymyr Solohub and Dmytro Orlov reporting from Oxford for Ukraine Today.

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