Testimonials

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Sandro Rosell
FC Barcelona President

Despite promising statements condemning violence from some universities in August, even before the start of the school year it became clear that there would be pressure on active students and teachers. The Belarusian Students' Association prepared a review of the pressure on students over the previous academic year. Honest University published it's "University is not a prison" project in December 2021. We supplement this data with cases of fired teachers.


On the moment of statistics update, according to the Honest University initiative, the following pressure has been exerted since the beginning of the protests:

Students:
- 53 students were recognized as political prisoners,
- 287 students were expelled,
- 150 people were deprived of scholarships and / or dormitories,
- 908 went through preventive talks,
- 484 got reprimanded from the administration.

Teachers:

- 3 were recognized as a political prisoners,
- 201 teachers were fired,
- 61 went through preventive talks,
- 26 were reprimanded by the administration.

Pressure on teachers

The total number of sholars which have been subjected to various kinds of pressure is estimated at no less then 258 people.

According to the data of BIBC, Honest University and BeSSA, as well as open data information 216 teachers of different HEIs who were subjected to pressure from the Ministry of Internal Affairs or their institution (among them 60 from BSU).

At the beginning of December, in addition to the cases collected above, information about so called list dismissals was added: 2 cases at the Belarusian State Medical University, 14 cases at the Belarusian State University and 25 cases at the Academy of Arts. We are only familiar with the aggregate data, so we cannot combine our lists.

Public cases are collected by us in the table below:

Name Pressure from MIA Pressure from HEI
Sviatlana Volchak, coordinator of the strike committee of the Belarusian State University, lecturer at the Faculty of Radiophysics and Computer Technologies, BSU (Minsk)

15 days of administrative arrest, repeatedly sentenced to 14 days of arrest.

In November 2022, for the third time, she was sentenced to 13 days of arrest.

Contract wasn't prolonged
Maksim Shundalau - Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Optics, BSU (Minsk) 20 b.v. of fine (540 BYN, about 210 USD)  
Andrey Viaryha - Senior Lecturer of the Department of Architecture and Head of the Department of Design and Brand Management, PSU (Navapolatsk) 20 b.v. of fine, re-detained for an administrative case Is forced to resign
Natallia Suslava - Associate Professor of Russian and World Literature, GSU of F. Skaryna (Gomel) 8 days of administrative arrest  
Vadzim Antsipau - teacher of philosophy, BSUIR (Minsk) 15 days of administrative arrest  
Yanka Tratsiak - Associate Professor of Grodno State University. J. Kupala (Hrodna)   Is forced to resign
Paval Barkouski - Associate Professor of Philosophy and Social Sciences Faculty, BSU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Zoja Belakhvostsik - People's Artist of Belarus, Lecturer at the Academy of Arts (Minsk)   Fired
Hanna Davidovich - Associate Professor of Philosophy and Social Sciences Faculty, BSU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Yulia Matusevich - Lecturer at the Laboratory of Practical Training, BSMU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Artsiom Ziatsikau - Senior Lecturer, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, BSMU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Mikalai Strakha - Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography and Methods of Teaching Geography, BSPU (Minsk)   Fired
Vadzim Bialjavets - Associate Professor of the Faculty of History, BSU (Minsk) Was arrested, taken to police station, released without protocol  
Aliaksey Smalianchuk - professor of Warsaw University 10 b.v. of fine (270 BYN, 100 USD)  
Volha Shparaha - head of "Modern society, etics and politics" concentration, Liberal Arts College ECLAB 15 days of arrest, one more protocol. She left the country.  
Alyaksandr Tsylindz - surgeon of Grodno University Clinic, GrSMU (Hrodna) Is waiting for the trial  
Zmitser Matuiza - Senior Lecturer, Department of Management of Social and Cultural Activities, BSUCA (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Mikhail Mishkevich - Dean of the Faculty of International Business Communications, BSEU (Minsk)   Is deprived of position
Maryna Lukashevich - Dean of the Faculty of Computer Systems and Networks, BSUIR (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Valery Prytkou - Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, BSUIR (Minsk)   Is deprived of position
Julia Safronova - MSLU (Minsk)   Fired
Anna Ablava - MSLU (Minsk)   Fired
Ksenia Katkova - MSLU (Minsk)   Fired
Natalia Dulina - Associate Professor of the Italian Language Department, MSLU (Minsk)

14 days of arrest in 2020. She was detained again and sentenced to 15 days of arrest in February and for the third time to 15 days in April 2022.

In December 2022, she was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison and recognized as a political prisoner

Fired
Maya Gavruchenkova - Lecturer, Department of Humanities, BSUIR (Minsk)   Fired
Alena Lukashanets - Professor of the Department of General Linguistics, MSLU (Minsk)   Resign in solidarity
Yuliya Belabrudova - Lecturer, Department of Translation Theory and Practice, MSLU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Siarhei Morozau - Associate Professor of Journalism, Kupala State University of Grodno (Hrodna)   Resign in solidarity
Fiodar Kandyranda - Lecturer of the General Military Faculty, Military Academy (Minsk)   Fired
Tatiana Sinitsa - Associate Professor of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, BSU (Minsk)

30 b.v. of fine (810 BYN, about 310 USD)

Detained again

 
Mikhail Kudeiko - Associate Professor of Management and Educational Technologies, Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining BSPU (Minsk) Trial result unknown  
Dzyanis Tushinski - lecturer at the Faculty of International Relations, BSU (Minsk) 15 days of arrest Fired
Olga Filatchenkova - Lecturer, Department of Information Technology Software, BSUIR (Minsk) Detained as part of a criminal case under Art. 342, the house was searched  
Uladizmir Lukyanenka - Dean of the Faculty of Automated and Information Systems, BSUIR (Minsk)   Is deprived of position and forced to resign lately
Yahor Prystauka - Associate Professor, Department of Classical Philology, Faculty of Philology, BSU (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Vasil Peravozchykau - Senior Lecturer, Department of Information and Computer Systems Design, BSUIR (Minsk)   Fired
Julia Pashkouskaya - Senior Lecturer at the Department of Engineer Psychology and Ergonomics, BSUIR (Minsk) Is waiting for the trial  
Aliaksandr Lahonenka - Associate Professor of the Biological Faculty, BSU (Minsk) 30 b.v. of fine (810 BYN, about 310 USD)  
Vasily Khomich - Associate Professor of the Department of Informatics and Computer Systems RPCTF, BSU (Minsk) Trial result unknown  
Alena Dym - Lecturer at the Department of Theory and Practice of Translation at FSС, BSU (Minsk) Trial result unknown  
Kiryl Dalgarukau - Lecturer at the Department of Physical Education and Sports, BSU (Minsk) 15 days of arrest  
Volha Palukoshka - Head of the Scientific and Educational Laboratory of the Philological Faculty, BSU (Minsk) Trial result unknown  
Elena Logovaya - Assistant at the Department of Epidemiology, BSMU (Minsk)   Resign in solidarity
Aleh Urkel - Lecturer of the Department of Physical Education, BSUCA (Minsk)   Resign in solidarity
Yauhen Malikau - Lecturer, BelSUT (Homiel) 5 days of arrest Fired
Vadzim Belski - Lecturer. GSU (Homiel) 3 days of arrest  
Dzianis Kandakou - Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, PSU (Polotsk)   Left his position
Yauhen Charnyausky - Deputy Director for Research at the Research Institute of Physical and Chemical Problems, BSU (Minsk) 15 days of arrest  
Zmicier Kruk - Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, BSU (Minsk) until September 2020; senior researcher at BEROC 15 days of arrest  
Tatsiana Yufanava - Senior Lecturer, Department of Industrial Heat Power Engineering, GSTU (Gomel) Fine Is forced to resign
Sergey Stakhovsky - Lecturer of the Department of Informatics, FCSIS, BSUIR (Minsk) 12 days of arrest  
Raman Azarchyk - Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Information Technologies, BSTU (Minsk) 30 b.v. of fine (810 BYN, about 310 USD)  
Angela Gaiduchyk - teacher at the Department of Physical Education, BSUIR (Minsk) 12 days of arrest  
Valiantisn Askirka - Senior Lecturer, Department of General Physics, Faculty of Physics and Technology, Grodno State University (Hrodna)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Yuliya Savich - teacher, BSAA (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Aliaksei Strelnikau - employee of the Center for Experimental Directing, BSAM (Minsk)   Fired
Natallya Liavanava - employee of the Center for Experimental Directing, BSAM (Minsk)   Fired
Kseniya Kniazeva - Senior Lecturer, BSAA (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Viktar Yakubau - Associate Professor, Department of Social Communications, PSU (Navapolatsk)

15 days of arrest, repeatedly sentenced to another 15 days of arrest

On 04.09.2021 sentenced to 15 days of arrest for the third time

 
Illya Karusejchyk - Lecturer at the Faculty of Physics, BSU (Minsk) 15 days of arrest  
Vital Arabey - Associate Professor of the Faculty of Architecture, BNTU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Alena Knyha - Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Architecture, BNTU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Paval Piatrou - Senior Lecturer, Department of Physical Electronics and Nanotechnologies, Faculty of Radiophysics and Computer Technologies, BSU (Minsk) 15 days of arrest  
Volha Kavaleuskaya - Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Geography, BSU (Minsk) Is waiting for the trial  
Aliaksandr Maiseeu - Assistant Professor of General and Orthopedic Dentistry, VSMU (Vitebsk) 8 b.v. of fine (232 BYN, about 90 USD) Fired
Yulia Charniauskaya - Professor of the Department of Management of Socio-Cultural Activities of the Faculty of Cultural Studies and Socio-Cultural Activities, BSUCA (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Vitaly Mikhailau - Lecturer at the Department of Philosophy and Methodology of Teaching Humanities, Faculty of Cultural Studies and Socio-Cultural Activities, BSUCA (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Lilia Ilyushina - Senior Lecturer, Department of Philosophy and Methodology of Teaching Humanities, Faculty of Cultural Studies and Socio-Cultural Activities, BSUCA (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Viktar Shadurski - Dean of the Faculty of International Relations, BSU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Yaraslau Kot - lecturer at the Faculty of Law, BSU (Minsk) 15 days of arrest Contract wasn't prolonged
Alexander Murashov - Professor, GrSU (Hrodna)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Zmitser Charhinets - Associate Professor, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, BSU (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Valeria Detsuk - Associate Professor of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, BelSUT (Gomel) She was detained and spent 72 hours in a remand prison, the trial was postponed  
Alexander Radyna - Associate Professor, Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, BSU (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Aliaksande Shybeka - Lecturer of the Department of Heat and Gas Supply and Ventilation, BNTU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Yuri Huminski - Lecturer of the Department of Machinery and Technology of Foundry Production, BNTU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Yuri Shklyar - Associate Professor, Department of Theory and Practice of the German Language, MSLU (Minsk) 90 b.v. of fine (2430 BYN, about 930 USD)  
Viktar Ivanchanka - Senior Lecturer of the Department of Software Information Systems and Technologies, Faculty of Information Systems and Robotics, BNTU (Minsk)   Fired
Stsiapan Zakharevich - Associate Professor of the Faculty of History, BSU (Minsk) 15 days of arrest  
Katsiaryna Deikala - Head of the Department of International Law, Faculty of International Relations, BSU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Uladzimir Lobach - Professor of the Faculty of History and Philology, PSU (Navapolatsk)   Fired
Alena Laeuskaya - Associate Professor, Department of Civil Law, Faculty of Law, BSU (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Alena Basalay - Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Law, Faculty of Law, BSU (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Aliaksandr Aheeu - Professor, Associate Professor, Candidate of Historical Sciences, MSU (Mahileu)   Fired
Ihar Sharukha - Professor of the Department of Natural Sciences, MSU (Mahileu)   Fired
Vitaly Eumenkou - Associate Professor, MSU (Mahileu)   Fired
Yuri Stulau - Associate Professor, English language faculty, MSLU (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Yuri Lasebnik - Associate professor, government and law studies, BSEU (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Valeria Kremenevskaya - teacher, MSLU (Minsk) 14 days of arrest  
Tatsiana Vadalazhskaya - lecturer, Flying University (Minsk) Suspect in the crime under 342 article.  
Uladzimer Matskevich - lecturer, Flying University (Minsk) Suspect in the crime under 342 article. Is in prison.  
Ihar Kuznetsou - Associate Professor of the Department of Diplomatic and Consular Service, Faculty of International Relations, BSU (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Sviatlana Matskevich - Associate Professor of Psychology and Pedagogy Department, BIP (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Vitaly Montsik - Senior Lecturer, Department of Management of Socio-Cultural Activities, BSUCA (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Sviatlana Stubyada - Senior Lecturer, Department of Socio-Cultural Management, BSUCA (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Anastasia Lyutko - Lecturer at the Department of Arts and Crafts, BSUCA (Minsk)   Is forced to resign
Anastasia Vyaskovets - Associate Professor of the Department of Management of Socio-Cultural Activities, BSUCA (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Anastasia Shchyttsova - Senior Lecturer, Department of Socio-Cultural Management, BSUCA (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Yulia Kulesh - pedagogue-psychologist, BSUCA (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Anatol Matveenko - Senior Lecturer, Department of Intercultural Communications, BSUCA (Minsk)   Contract wasn't prolonged
Natalia Yarshova - Senior Lecturer, MSU (Mahileu)   Is forced to resign
Ksenya Martul - Associate Professor, Journalist Faculty, BSU (Minsk) 15 days of arrest (was taken by police directly from the class she was speaking at)  
Tatsiana Aleshka - Associate Professor, Philological Faculty, BSU (Minsk)   Is fired
Maryna Saltykova-Valkovich - Associate Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Childhood Psychology, Faculty of Pedagogy, Grodno State University (Hrodna)   Is fired
Hanna Kureichyk - Associate Professor of Television and Radio Broadcasting Department, Faculty of Journalism, BSU (Minsk) Detained  
Natalia Abrashina-Zhadaeva - Professor of the Department of Higher Mathematics and Mathematical Physics, Faculty of Physics, BSU (Minsk) Dismissed and later dismissed   Dismissed and later fired
Irina Kuchvalskaya - teacher, GSU (Homiel) 15 days of arrest  
Zmitser Zhuk - lecturer of the Department of Economic Theory and Marketing, BSTU (Minsk) Detained  
Alexander Danilevich - lecturer at the Faculty of International Relations, BSU (Minsk)   Dismissed
Siarhei Movchan - teacher of the Department of Physical Education and Sports, BSU (Minsk)   Forced to resign
Sviatlana Silova - assistant professor of the department of historical sciences, GrSU (Hrodna) Was detained and later sentenced to a fine Is fired
Aksana Shelest - an employee of the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus 15 days of arrest  
Aleh Davydenko - Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus  Sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment  
Siarhei Rykun - teacher at the Department of Physical Education, PSU (Polatsk)    15 days of administrative arrest  
Siarhei Glazyryn - Associate Professor of the Department of Constitutional Law and Public Administration, PSU (Polatsk) 15 days of administrative arrest  
Viktar Charauko - associate professor of the Department of History and Tourism, PSU (Polatsk) 15 days of administrative arrest  
Alena Khramtsova - lecturer of the Department of World Literature and Foreign Languages, PSU (Polatsk) 10 days of administrative arrest  
Galina Sharaglazava - assistant professor of the department of geodesy and geoinformation systems, PSU (Polatsk) 10 days of administrative arrest  
Yury Bubnov - professor, head of the Department of Humanities at Moscow State University (Mogilev)  2 years of imprisonment  
Nadzeya Staravoytava - teacher of the Belarusian language, candidate of philological sciences and assistant professor of the Belarusian language department, BSEU (Minsk) 3 years of restriction of freedom  
Natalya Sivitskaya - candidate of philological sciences, assistant professor of the Department of Belarusian and Russian Languages, BSUPC (Minsk)   3 years of restriction of freedom  
Alena Drabudzka - the head of the dormitory, BSEU (Minsk)  2.5 years of restriction of freedom  
Ihar Bortnik - associate professor of the department of social and humanitarian disciplines, PSU (Polatsk) 38 days of administrative arrest (three sentences of 10, 13 and 15 years in a row) dismissed
Tatsiana Maklyatsova - assistant professor of the Department of Design, VSTU (Vitsebsk)   60 b.v. of fine (2220 BYN, about 680 USD)  
Natalya Tarabuka - assistant professor of the Department of Design, VSTU (Vitsebsk) was detained, the results of the trial are unknown  
Natalya Badzyala - head of the Department of Clothing Design and Technology, VsTU (Vitsebsk) was detained, the results of the trial are unknown  
Halina Yashava - head of the department of economic theory and marketing, VSTU (Vitsebsk)  was detained, the results of the trial are unknown  
Dzianis Kamyahin - teacher, GrSMU (Hrodna)   30 b.v. of fine (1100 BYN, about 340 USD)  
Sviatlana Yaskevich - tacher at the Institute of Business, BSU (Minsk)  was detained and filmed in a humiliating video with apologies. It is unknown whether there was a trial and what the results were.  
Zhanna Syadletskaya - employee of Department of Software Development and Technologies, BNTU (Minsk)   2.5 years of restriction of freedom  
Natalya Zhloba - senior lecturer of the Department of Foreign Literature, Faculty of English, MSLU (Minsk)   She was convicted under Art. 361-2 of the Criminal Code for donations to initiatives recognized as extremist. The sentence is unknown. Included in the list of persons involved in extremist activities.  
Natalya Martusevich - former head of the department, MSU (Mahileu)   Detained, charged under Art. 130 CC (inciting enmity). The sentence is unknown.  
Hanna Nanos - teacher, PSU (Polatsk)  30 b.v. of fine (1100 BYN, about 340 USD)  
Katsiaryna Shaulyuha - secretary of the dean's office of the Faculty of History and Philology, PSU (Polatsk)    dismissed
Anastasia Mozgo - teacher of the Departments of World Literature and Foreign Languages, PSU (Polatsk)   dismissed
Svetlana Panimashchenko - senior lecturer of the Department of Foreign Languages, PSU (Polatsk)   dismissed
Tatsiana Charkasova - secretary of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports, PSU (Polatsk)   dismissed
Sviatlana Nikolina - a support specialist of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports, PSU (Polatsk)   resigned as a sign of solidarity
Yury Kezha - assistant professor, PSU (Polatsk)   dismissed

In addition, 12 rectors of universities and academies were fired.

***

Repressions in the academic community do not stop, but on the contrary take on new forms - thus, on November 2, 2022, 44 employees were detained at the Academy of Sciences, 3 of whom were later convicted on administrative charges.

Over the last school year, the Belarusian Students' Association and the Student Initiative Group have collected evidence of 492 detained students.

In some cases, the outcome of the detention is unknown, but at least 139 people received administrative penalties in the form of short-term arrest, and at least 71 people in the form of fines.

51 people became suspects in criminal cases investigation. On Thursday, November 12, Ksenia Syramalot, Yahor Kanetski, Gleb Finzer (relised on 30.05.2022), Yana Arabeika, Kasya Budko, Maria Kalenik, Victoria Grankovskaya, Ilya Trakhtenberg, and Anastasia Bulybenko were detained. Alana Gebremaryam, a member of the BSA Board, was also detained. This day was named "Black Thursday of students".

Since September, cases have been filed against Akihira Gaeuski-GanadaMarfa RabkovaAnastasia Dudina, since October - against Ilya BychkouskiDavid Zbaranski (17 years old), and since November - against Uladzislau Martsinovich.

Sentences:
Yauhen Kalinouski was sentenced to 4 years for defending peaceful protests participants on July 14 from illegal actions of police officers;
Artsyom Vinakurau was sentenced to 3 years for entering the auditorium during the classes and calling participants to join the strike;
Viktar Aktsistau was sentenced to 2.5 years for participating in a protest rally on August 10 and allegedly committing violence against police officers;
Sofia Malashevich was sentenced to 2 years and Tikhan Klyukach to 1.5 years for painting the shields of police officers with a spray can;
Alyaksei Machalau was sentenced to 1.5 years for a message in a local chat, where he spoke harshly to police officer M. Bedunkevich.

For a long time the most blatant case of administrative arrest was the case of Zmitser Mazura, a BSUIR student who was abducted near the university and sentenced first to 23 days in jail and then to 15 more. In total, Zmitser spent 38 days under arrest. But this sad record was broken on November 27 by Jan Solanovich, also a BSUIR student, who was sentenced to 114 days of administrative arrest. On January 29 Jan was unexpectedly released

The average term of arrest is 14 days, and fines - 20 b.v. (540 BYN, about 180 USD). For comparison, the minimum scholarship in a number of universities is 77.08 BYN (about 30 USD).

Administrative pressure was not the main goal of the analysis, but at least 324 such cases were reported, 160 of which resulted in expulsions.

***

Belarusian Independent Bologna Committee condemns any kind of pressure on the academic community and calls for the immediate observance of academic freedoms and human rights.