ArchivesBelarus Report-2007
The US Dpartment of State released its Human Rights Report for 2007. Below is a summary of some issues. By no means it is a detailed summary, however, as soon as I get more time all topics will be updated and expanded.
Academic freedom issues:
The government restricted academic freedom, in part by requiring educational institutions to teach an official state ideology that combined reverence for the achievements of the Soviet Union and for the country under the leadership of President Lukashenko. Use of the word “academic” is restricted. In June 2006 President Lukashenko signed a decree prohibiting any NGO from including the word “academy” in its title.
During the year (2007) authorities dismissed teachers and researchers on political grounds. For example, on March 19, the state-controlled Belarusian National Academy of Sciences forced doctoral candidate Yauhen Anishchanka to resign as a senior history researcher, a position that Anishchanka had held for nearly 20 years. According to credible sources, authorities regarded Anishchanka’s research on late 18th-century Russian imperialism as failing to comply with state ideology. In the same manner, In March the government-controlled Supreme Certification Commission rejected a history thesis by doctoral candidate Irina Kashtalyan on the grounds that it insinuated that “the Soviet state was not a natural mother but an evil, heartless stepmother” that “contravened human nature.”
Other official “initiatives” include: a) directive that all schools, including private institutions, are political bodies, which must follow state orders and cannot be headed by opposition members b) ideological policy is enforced by BRYU organization c) Government-mandated textbooks contained a heavily propagandized version of history and other subjects.
At the same time, there were 20 cases of politically motivated expulsions from universities.
General human rights issues:
The situation in Belarus continues to concern the United States of America and European Union says the U.S. Department of State in its recent annual country report on Human Rights Practices. Similarly, the United Nations adopted in 2007a resolution on condemning the human rights situation in Belarus and calling for the release of all political prisoners.
The U.S. Department of State report is has various sub sections and pays special attention to the sections describing a) Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment b) detention centers conditions c) trial procedures d) freedom of speech and expulsions from Universities. All sections provide specific cases and examples.
Cases:
Yauhen Anishchanka is forced to resign as a senior history researcher from the state-controlled Belarusian National Academy of Sciences. It is reported that his research on late 18th-century Russian imperialism failed to comply with state ideology.
A thesis by doctoral candidate Irina Kashtalyan is rejected on the grounds of “that it insinuated that “the Soviet state was not a natural mother but an evil, heartless stepmother” that “contravened human nature.”
