Schoolchildren forced to join BRSM in Salihorsk

Local representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in Salihorsk have received information about cases of coercion and threats to students by the school administration in an attempt to force them join the pro-government youth organization Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM).

According to the human rights activists, the pupils are threatened with inability to enter universities without their membership in the Youth Union. In particular, a teacher of local high school No. 3 has reportedly talked with the pupils to force them join the Union. She used psychological pressure and threats. The most persistent students are threatened with involvement in extracurricular activities at school.