Ministry of Education refuses to reinstate Tatsiana Shaputska at Belarusian State University
The first deputy minister of education at last replied to Tatsiana Shaputska, spokesperson for the Young Front, expelled from the Law Faculty of Belarusian State University in connected with her participation in the Eastern Partnership civil forum.
‘All actions comply with the requirements of the law. There are no legal grounds to withdraw the order on your expulsion from the list of second year students of the Law Faculty,’ says the official reply of Aliaksandr Zhuk dated 28 January.
The deputy minister reminds Tatsiana Shaputska the history of acceptance to and expulsion from the university.
‘In 2008, a sanction (reprimand) was imposed on you for violating items 3.1.4 and 3.1.5 of the Internal Regulations of Belarusian State University order #L493 of 12.12.2008).
In 2009, you missed classes from 16 November to 18 November without reasonable excuse, which is confirmed by your explanatory letter. You violated the Regulation of issuing written permissions to send citizens of Belarus, students of Belarusian education establishments, for studying abroad or taking part in sporting, cultural and other events during an academic year, adopted by decree #125 of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus on 27.12.2005.
Fulfilling academic requirements, academic programme and good academic performance by a student do not relieve his or her from fulfilling other obligations, violation of which can lead to imposing disciplinary sanctions,’ the reply says.
Aliaksandr Zhuk concludes: ‘All actions comply with the law. There are no legal grounds for cancelling the order on your expulsion from the list of second-year students of the Law Faculty.’
Tatsiana Shaputska didn’t hope for good news. That’s why the Young Front addressed ministers of education of EU countries asking to help the girl to get distance education abroad. The main thing in Belarus is not good academic performance, but fulfilling instructions of officials.
On 28 January, Tatsiana Shaputska was called to the BSU rector (the official replied was signed on that date) to take her academic record.
Bear in mind that Tatsiana Shaputska was expelled from the university after she had taken part in the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in Brussels on 16-17 November. Despite the addresses of European diplomats to Belarusian authorities, it was impossible to resolve the situation in favour of the student, who was accused of absence from studies. Even the promise of Leanid Kozik, Chairman of the Belarusian Trade Union Federation, to stage a picket in support of Shaputska in the case of her expulsion from the educational establishment hadn’t helped, Kozik refused to keep his promise when the girl was expelled from the university.
