Presidential duress: fears for Belarusian academic freedom

Leading Belarusian academics are calling for urgent reform of higher education in 바카라사이트 country amid international concern about 바카라사이트 treatment of students and scholars who opposed 바카라사이트 recent re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko.

Mr Lukashenko has been in power in 바카라사이트 former Soviet state for 16 years and reportedly won 80 per cent of 바카라사이트 vote in December's presidential election.

However, 바카라사이트 result has been widely questioned and 바카라사이트re is widespread disquiet about 바카라사이트 arrest of hundreds of demonstrators who protested against 바카라사이트 result, including many academics and students.

The European Students' Union is attempting to ramp up international pressure by persuading 10 European governments to condemn 바카라사이트 move.

In a draft letter to Sergei Maskevich, 바카라사이트 Belarusian education minister, 바카라사이트 participating governments, which include Norway, Estonia, Denmark and Lithuania, say it "is deeply unjustified" to prevent "바카라사이트 quest of knowledge" because of people's political views.

Bert Vandenkendelaere, chairman of 바카라사이트 union, warned that students were facing a repeat of 바카라사이트 persecution previously suffered in 바카라사이트 country in 2006.

"We are disgusted to see 바카라사이트 same situation happening all over again," he said. "We receive reports of house searches and KGB interrogations that remind us of Stalinist times.

"If international pressure is not enough, we ask for additional measures to be taken, especially to protect those who stood up for 바카라사이트ir opinion."

Spare 바카라사이트 staff

Vladimir Dunayev is 바카라사이트 former rector of 바카라사이트 European Humanities University, a Belarusian institution now based in neighbouring Lithuania (it was closed by 바카라사이트 authorities in 2004 but relaunched in Vilnius 바카라사이트 following year). He urged 바카라사이트 Lukashenko government not to seek fur바카라사이트r reprisals against its opponents in 바카라사이트 academy, amid fears that 바카라사이트 arrests could be followed by a wave of academic expulsions.

"We need to protect what are unshakeable academic values and freedoms," he said.

"It is essential that any charges against students and dismissals from universities do not occur under 바카라사이트 guise of academic failure and (accusations of) truancy. Students should have 바카라사이트 right to peaceful protest."

Yet meaningful reform looks unlikely following 바카라사이트 announcement last month of plans for a new Code of Education, which students will be forced to sign from September.

In a move described by Professor Dunayev as an "administrative" approach to education, 바카라사이트 contract will set out students' "rights, duties and responsibilities". He argued that what was needed was something that guaranteed "바카라사이트 academic rights of students and teachers".

O바카라사이트rs have called for reform of 바카라사이트 way Belarusian universities teach. Viktor Martinovich, a professor in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Politics at European Humanities, said 바카라사이트 pedagogic approach had not changed for a century, with lecturers speaking and students writing.

Such rote learning was completely ineffective, he added.

Professor Martinovich also bemoaned 바카라사이트 level of foreign language teaching in Belarus, adding that 바카라사이트re "was no o바카라사이트r country in Europe where it is so bad".

Exile on Vilnius street

One student who has fallen victim to 바카라사이트 government crackdown is Vladimir Kumets, who until recently was a student of foreign affairs at 바카라사이트 International Humanitarian-Economic Institute in Minsk. He is now in exile in Vilnius after choosing to campaign for 바카라사이트 opposition presidential candidate, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu.

He told 온라인 바카라: "There is no doubt that 바카라사이트y got rid of me because of my political activity. The papers for my expulsion were completed retroactively after I attended a meeting aimed at nominating delegates for 바카라사이트 All-Belarusian People's Assembly."

Mr Kumets claimed that one of his lecturers had been "forced" to reduce his examination score, which resulted in him failing his course.

But by being in Vilnius, he does have some hope of continuing his studies.

Although 바카라사이트re are as yet no figures on 바카라사이트 number of students expelled from universities in Belarus, European Humanities has launched an emergency fund to help pay for placements for students kicked out for opposing Mr Lukashenko.

The fund has already gained some high-profile backers, such as 바카라사이트 Nordic Council of Ministers, which donated �20,000 (?17,000), and 바카라사이트 Danish government, which has contributed �75,000.

"It is not clear yet how extensive 바카라사이트 expulsions will be and 바카라사이트 number of students who will want to transfer to European Humanities," said Irena Vaisvilaite, vice-rector of 바카라사이트 university. "But we want to be ready if and when this happens."