17 Dec 2007
Expelled Students Start Winning
There is a new trend in Belarusian political scandals. Mainly, the news of expelled students are followed by the news of them winning courts or being reinstated at universities. At the beginning of December there were two main student disputes against their universities, both ending in a more or less positively way.
We already wrote about Zmicier Zhalieznichenka, who got expelled from Homel State University (HSU) for being arrested due to his political activities. After his claim to the Homel city court about unlawful activities of HSU was declined, he continued his struggle and sent a claim to the next level of the Belarusian court system. Unexpectedly, his claim was taken by the Homel regional court college. This meant the overruling of the lower court’s decision, giving Zmicier a second chance to continue his battle and probably even win it. Meanwhile, he is preparing for entrance exams coming next summer, not fearing an army service since apparently there exists a recommendation not to draft young men who were accused of administrative crimes or expressed disobedience to police during arrests.
Another student in trouble is Katsiaryna Salawjova, a second-year student of the History and philology department of the Polatsak state university (English and French language studies) who was arrested for grafting the walls of the city government building earlier this month. As a result Kasia faced problems with her studies: at a teachers meeting at her university it was decided that there is no sense for student Salawjova to continue her studies. At the same time, three criminal cases were started against her for: activities on behalf of an unregistered organization, claiming offense of state symbols and for the graffiti.
However, just after she was expelled, told to pack her things and look for a job, the Rector of her university requested a meeting with her after her arrival to her native town. After the interview Katsiaryna said,
We talked for two hours. He said that if I continue being involved in political actions or if I get in any trouble of that kind then he will put a cross on me, I will be the only responsible. By the way, he is a very tactful Rector, I even did not expect that.
This seems to be the first case that a student with a firm civic position and actively involved in politics is reinstated at the university right after being expelled by it.
One can say that the Media coverage of Katsiaryna’s story as well as the people who were supporting Katsiaryna must have played a substantial role in this story.
In any case this is good that the scandal finished well. Kasia is not going to give up her civic ideas and plans to continue political activities.