Human rights organization Viasna reports that searches and interrogations are taking place in Belarus as part of a criminal case related to cooperation with the European Humanities University (EHU).
Yerevan State University is a private university that has been operating in Minsk since 1992. After the university was closed by the Belarusian authorities in 2004, the university continued to operate in Vilnius. “Mirror” edition Calls Yerevan State University is one of the main educational centers for Belarusian students.
In mid-April, the Supreme Court of Belarus declared the University of Belarus an “extremist organization” and banned its activities in the country. Meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Office He threatenedThat training, employment or financial transactions related to the EHU may be subject to criminal liability under the Extreme Articles.
According to Viasna, the Belarusian authorities have opened a criminal case in connection with cooperation with Yerevan State University. It is not known under what article. Human rights activists suggest that we are talking about participation in extremist activities.
It is known that as part of this case, security forces approached 12 Belarusians suspected of having links to the university. Viasna claims that security forces also come to students of Yerevan State University. To them, as well as to them Relatives Threatened with persecution if students are not expelled from the university.
“Officially, to bring the authorities to justice, it is necessary to prove the connection with the EHU, but in the current circumstances, confessions obtained under torture may also be sufficient. In this regard, we do not recommend teachers, students and people who have any other contacts with the EHU to return to Belarus, as well as interact with its social networks,” Viasna said in a statement.