Academic Freedoms in Belarus Still Trampled Upon, Uladzimir Dunayeu Says

Academic freedoms are not the priority of the Belarusian state.

The conclusion follows from the independent report on the monitoring of the implementation of the road map for reform of higher education of Belarus in the latter half of 2015, Belarusian News reports.

The special commission consisting of representatives of civil society and experts Independent Bologna Committee made the report.

The main things that determine adherence to European values, such as academic freedoms are missing, Uladzimir Dunayeu, expert in higher education, believes.

He mentioned the reaction of the authorities and the leadership of the Belarusian State University on students' campaign against fee-based retaking of exams and credits of last November against "(later the requirement to hold fair elections to the Students' Union was added).

"Students' intention to be heard was ignored, Dunayeu believes. - It turns out as soon as students decide to participate in life of university, they are immediately being put pressure on."

He draws his attention to threats of the university administration. It manipulated Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code (it implies punishment for actions on behalf of unregistered organizations). It related to independent student organizations that asked the European Students' Union for support. It should be noted that the EU condemned the prosecution of participants of Students Are Against campaign.

Many students fear persecution for nonconformity. While student monitoring, more than a hundred of them declared violation of their rights, Aliaksandra Kuzmich, member of StudentWatch initiative group, stated.

Students declared pressure put on them during the election campaign, signatures collection against fee-based retakings in the BSU and after Students' March of December 2, Minsk.

According to students' statements, they had a personal conversation with the university's administration, many of them were threatened with expulsion from the university, had calls and messages. Young people also mentioned pressure put on the part of lecturers, professors.

"Even monitoring was anonymous. Students avoided prosecutions on the part of the administration," Aliaksandra Kuzmich emphasized.

According to monitoring, two students were excluded for academic failure. But students say Students' March caused it.

It is possible that young people will continue their education abroad within Kastus Kalinowski program. More than 6000 Belarusians had such program, Inna Kulei, Chairman of Repressed Protection Committee, noted.

"Experience shows that the government practices delayed repressions. It means that while summer examinations students-activists may find themselves under repressions. Anyway, only constant control of the society is the guarantee of observance of rights and freedoms of students," Inna Kulei said.

For now "Belarus still tramples upon academic freedoms, students fear of prosecutions, and live in climate of fear, Dunayeu said.