Authorities of Belarus close down an independent university

[Vitaly Chernetsky]

Dear Colleagues,

I believe this news may be of relevance to the Western Slavist comminity.

Sincerely,

Vitaly Chernetsky

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 19:07:31 -0400
From: Serguei Alex. Oushakine <sao15 at columbia.edu>
Subject: Authorities of Belarus close down an independent university

22 July 2004

Dear Sir/Madam,

In attachment to this message I send the statement of the European
Humanities University on the forthcoming suspension of its educational
activity.

Since the beginning of this week the Ministry of Education of Belarus and
some other state authorities have undertaken several steps leading to the
suspension of EHU academic programs and possibly the closure of this
university. The EHU has been asked to vacate the university academic
building by 5 August 2004.

This statement and respective press release in Russian will be posted on EHU
web site www.ehu.by for public access.

In the course of this and the next week we will contact all the EHU donors,
partners and supporting organizations to discuss further actions with regard
to academic programs, which have been implemented at this university with
donors' support.

Should you have any questions regarding this statement, please contact Prof.
Vladimir Dounaev, or myself or heads of respective academic programs at EHU.

Best regards,

Alexander Mikheyshin
Adviser to the Rector, International Affairs
European Humanities University
24, Praspekt Frantsiska Skaryny
Minsk 220030
Belarus
Tel/fax (+375 17) 289 11 59
Mob. (+375 29) 648 22 52
E-mail: mikheyshin at ehu.by
European Humanities University

=================

Statement
Minsk, 22 July 2004

On 19 July 2004 Mr. Radkov, Minister of Education of Belarus, once again
demanded an immediate resignation of Prof. Mikhailov from his position of
the Rector of the European Humanities University (EHU). In parallel, various
signals were sent to the EHU to back this demand with a threat for the EHU
to face consequences.

On 20 July the EHU Academic Council reiterated the support by university
faculty, staff and the students to Prof. Mikhailov and asked him to remain
in his position of the EHU Rector.

On 21 July 2004 the EHU received an official letter from one of the
departments of the Presidential Administration of Belarus, which notifies
the university on termination of rent of the academic building hosting most
of the EHU programs and facilities.

The academic building is a property of the Presidential Administration,
which has been rented by the EHU for 7 years now.

The officials of the Presidential Administration notified on the termination
of rent contract and demanded the EHU vacating the building before 5 August
2004. The demand is motivated by the need to provide additional office space
for several governmental agencies.

A few weeks ago another state property owner refused to extend the rent of
facilities to the EHU.

Under the current circumstances the EHU has no chances to find a new
classroom space for the teaching process, which means the university is
automatically disqualified on several requirements for the educational
license.

On 22 July Ministry of Education sent a commission to the EHU to check by
next Monday, 26 July, if this university complies with requirements related
to the educational license. It is a foregone conclusion the commission will
report that the EHU does not have classroom space for educational activity,
which means effective termination of the educational license for EHU.

On the same day, city and district tax authorities have sent several special
commissions to check all the financial aspects of the EHU activity.

All these facts have clearly demonstrated the resolve by Minister Radkov to
put an end to university autonomy and academic freedoms, which so far have
remained at EHU in Belarus. After it became clear the policy of pressure and
blackmail personally against Prof. Mikhailov and in general against EHU
faculty and students is not working within the university community, the
officials have chosen the way of combining administrative means and
legalistic instruments to close down the EHU.

The university management is making a legal assessment of the current
situation and will inform the EHU founders, donors and partners on the
forthcoming forced suspension of educational activity at EHU.

We refer to the EHU previous statement of 5 May 2004 and call on EHU donors,
partners and Governments of those countries that have been supporting
international cooperation in the area of higher education with Belarus and
the EHU in particular, to support the students, faculty and university
management in their efforts to defend the right for university autonomy and
freedom. We believe this right is universal and will work to find the ways
and partners to continue the EHU mission regardless of the current
circumstances.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------