Human rights advocates: Shaputska’s expulsion looks as a political discrimination

The Movement for Freedom (the MFF) members call for writing new letters to the Belarusian State University (the BSU) rector to support Tatsiana Shaputska, the Young Front activist, who was expelled from this university.

In their next letter, the MFF activists refer to several facts which prove the politically motivated persecution of Shaputska on the part of the BSU leadership.

First, in accordance with Paragraph 6.5 of the Internal Rules of the BSU “Expulsion of a student from the BSU shall be executed on the basis of the request of the corresponding department’s dean...” Law department dean made the request to admonish Shaputska for her absence at the lessons during her participation in the Civil Society Forum which took place in Brussels on November 16-17. However, the BSU head made an unprecedented decision to expel this successful student.

Second, several circumstances weren’t considered when expelling Shaputska (her high average score, no penalties for absence, gravity of the alleged fault, etc.) as Paragraph 6.7 of the Rules requires. Shaputska’s penalty is inadequate as compared to her alleged fault − namely, participation in the work of the Forum which aims to promote integration of Belarus into the European community which is supported at the official level as well.

The authors of the letter also draw the head’s attention to the fact that most students missed dozens of lessons but are not expelled from the BSU. Moreover, expulsion is the extreme, exceptional measure which is very rarely used.

The activists and the human rights advocates inform the BSU head of the facts of the pressure on the part of the BSU administration on the students who helped collect signatures to support Shaputska which additionally confirms political nature of her expulsion. The authors of the letter once again ask Siarhiey Ablamieyka, the BSU head, to reverse his decision on Shaputska’s expulsion and to restore her at the 2nd year of the law department full-time section.

Everyone can sign the letter to support Shaputska. The sample of the letter can be found here.

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