Just keep in mind that in the old Soviet Union if you had a public position or a position with public influence(like a rector) you were always expected to agree

Just keep in mind that in the old Soviet Union if you had a public position or a position with public influence(like a rector) you were always expected to agree with the government, or (in the best case) you'd lose your job. So it could be very much a case of "sign this or you'll regret it".