Repressions against Eastern Partnership Forum are challenge to Europe

Expulsion of Tatsyana Shaputska, a spokesperson of “Young Front” from the Belarusian State University can shoot down flirting of the Belarusian regime with Europe.

Tatsyana Shaputska was expelled from the Belarusian State University for her participation in the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership in Brussels. This fact looks outrageous even amid the usual practice of expelling politically active students from Belarusian universities. The Eastern Partnership is an initiative of the European Union, officially accepted by the Belarusian government. Alongside with government institutions, civil society representatives were invited to participate in it, “European Belarus” website informs.

She met with the leadership of European countries and the European Union, including Carl Bildt, Foreign Minister of Sweden which is the country presiding in the EU at the moment, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy. During the forum, when reports about the threat of the activist’s expulsion appeared, Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Carl Bildt, as well as other high-ranking participants of the Forum assured participants of the event that they would follow the developments concerning Tatsyana Shaputska.

The head of the pro-regime trade unions Leanid Kozik took part in the Forum in Brussels as well. When the issue of Shaputska’s expulsion was brought up at the forum, Kozik promised to stage a protest demonstration in central Minsk himself, in case Shaputska would be banished. However, when the threat became reality, and the girl was expelled from the BSU, there was no response from the trade unions boss.

As said by another participant of the Forum, a coordinator of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Uladzimir Kobets, Shaputska’s expulsion from the BSU puts in doubt readiness of the regime to make steps to meet the European Union:

“By becoming a member of the Eastern Partnership, our country has undertaken certain commitments, including commitments in the sphere of civil society development. Civic engagement is a norm in the countries where the future of any politician directly depends on sentiments of voters. In the EU countries, civic engagement and activism of the young are particularly welcomed. The news about expulsion of the delegate of the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership is last good-bye to illusions that the regime had serious intentions to make steps to meet the European Union, to share common values with citizens of the free world.

Surely enough, Tatsyana won’t be left without education at university level. In Brussels she has already received proposals to continue education. It would be a display of wisdom of the BSU administration to reinstate Tatsyana Shaputska as a student. It is in the interests of Belarus when a young talented girl, who is concerned by the future of her country, a delegate of the Civil Society Forum, to continue education in its native Belarus,” Uladzimir Kobets said.

In an interview to charter97.org website Tatsyana Shaputska stated:

“10 days ago a deputy dean of my faculty told me that serious-minded people in serious agencies took interest in me after my visit to Brussels. On December 3 I was invited to the dean’s office and demonstrated an order on my expulsion signed by the BSU rector. However no reasons were explained for me, and I was said that I could receive a copy of the order in a reception office.

To say the truth, I was shocked. I have good progress and attendance, and a high average score. But when on December 3 I learnt that oppositionists were sentenced to 15 days of arrest for staging a performance in central Minsk, and when I heard Lukashenka’s yesterday’s statement about his attitude to Russia, it is small wonder for me,” Tatsyana Shaputska said. “Lukashenka has demonstrated that the vector of his policy has changed from European to Russian one. Oppositionists’ arrests and the statement of the Belarusian leader are a demonstration trick made on the same day to show Europe it does not have influence on Lukashenka’s policy”.

It should be noted that in the final document participants of the Civil Society Forum call upon the European Union to oblige governments of the member countries of the Eastern Partnership to release political prisoners, to respect human rights, to hold free and democratic elections, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

Tatsyana Shaputska with Carl Bildt, Swedish Foreign Minister of Sweden presiding in the EU at the moment, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy

Tatsyana Shaputska with Head of the Eastern Europe Division of Sweden`s Foreign Ministry Johan Frisell

Leanid Kozik, pro-regime trade unions leader, personally promised to stage a protest demonstration in the centre of Minsk in case Shaputska would be expelled