Expelled for Freethinking (photos)

On July 14 Ales Krauchenia, an activist of Movement For Freedom, had to abandon his study at the Baranavichy State University. A week ago this 4-year student was officially expulsed from the Engineering Department.

On March 25, 2008 Ales was arrested in Baranavichy for participation in a demonstration in memory of 90 anniversary of the Belarusian Democratic Republic. Having spent several days in jail and after paying a fine of 350.000 BYR (about 170 USD), Ales Krauchenia was informed by his Dean Aliaksandr Akulau that a student would have problems during the exams in summer.

Another reason for expulsion was a critical interview to the local independent newspaper Intex-Press where Ales expressed his views on youth and civil problems of the town and the country in general.

Immediately a local military conscription office developed an interest to Ales. On July 11, an officer visited the activist’s house and handled him an official demand to start a medical examination for conscription procedures on July 15, 2008.

Ales Krauchenia has filled all the required documents in Belarusian just like another activist Zmitsier Zhaleznichenka that was the first opposition activist to bring his native language to the military.

 

Photo: Ales Krauchenia during a meeting with and Aliaksandr Milinkevich in Baranavichy on April 2008.

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