REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

VIOLATIONS OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM

I knew that one step to the right, one step to the left and I would be expelled from the university
Belarusian student

PREFACE: ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS 3

SUMMARY 5

RECOMMENDATIONS 7

BACKGROUND 9

Educational Structure 9
The November 1996 Referendum 10
Demonstrations 10
Belarus and the International Community 10

REVIVING SOVIET HISTORY 12

Obstructing Research 12
The State-controlled Press as a Medium of Intimidation 14
Censorship 14
Nasha Niva 14
Banning Belarusian History Textbooks 15

INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS 19

Rectors Appointed by Presidential Decree 19
The Belarusian Patriotic Union of Youth 21

STUDENTS 25

Student Clubs 25
Student Newspapers 26
Akademicheskaya Punya 26
Links between Universities and Law Enforcement Agencies 28
Arbitrary Expulsions 29
Threats of Expulsion and Repression against Politically Active Students 32

LECTURERS 37

Politically Motivated Dismissals 37
Political Harassment 39

OBSTRUCTION OF PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 42

Private Universities 42
Private Initiatives 43
Belarusian Association of Women Lawyers and the Brest Association of Legal Advice Centers 44
Rada 23 and VIT 45
The People's University 46

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 49