In Brussels Martynau made excuses for Tatsyana Shaputska’s expulsion, but nobody believed him

• 9.12.2009, 8:43

The issue of expulsion of “Young Front” activist from the Belarusian State University was brought up t the meeting with representatives of Belarusian authorities in Kyiv and Brussels.

It was stated by Carl Bildt, Foreign Minister of Sweden which is presiding in the EU now, at a press-conference after the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the EU and “European Partnership” countries.

Carl Bildt stated that it would be “absolutely unacceptable” if the expulsion was connected with Shaputska’s participation in the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership. This event was held in Brussels on November 16-17, BelaPAN informs.

The Foreign Minister of Belarus Syarhei Martynau said that “not the government, but the university expels students”. Her underlined that the reason for expulsion was “absence rate”.

In response Carl Bildt noted that “representatives of law-enforcing agencies had come in contact with the administration of the university”. “They certainly might have asked about her absence rate, but it does not come within their duties usually”, the Swedish minister stated.

We remind that Tatsyana Shaputska was expelled from the law department of Belarusian State University after she had taken part in the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in Brussels. This is flagrant even against the background of usual practice of expulsion of politically active students from Belarusian universities. The Eastern Partners is an initiative of the European Union, officially supported by the Belarusian leadership. Civil society, as well as governmental bodies, can participate in the project.