Hrodna: students are expelled for participation in post-election protest action
The administration of Hrodna
State University
started expelling students who had taken part in the protest action of 19
December in Minsk.
The first victim became Barys Zakharchuk, a student of the physical-technical
faculty.
The student has been twice interrogated at the Hrodna Region KGB department
during the last month. Moreover, his apartment was searched. As a result, KGB
officers confiscated the system unit of his computer.
The official reason for the expulsion is poor academic progress. However, the
student connects it with persecution from the side of the Belarusian security
services. 'There were no cases when I failed to pass three exams at once. I
don't think it's a coincidence,' says Barys.
Yauhen Busko, a second-year student of the physical-technical faculty, served a
15-day arrest for participation in the protest action. He failed to pass 2
exams during the winter session and believes the administration takes
purposeful measures for his expulsion. 'When I came back, the lecturers looked
at me strangely. It was clear that they were implementing an order they
received. Later my friends told me that my documents had been passed to the
dean's office back on 20 December,' commented Yauhen.
