At least seven fired from Połack State University

June 17, BPN. A university in the northern Viciebsk region has fired at least seven staff members recently amid reprisals against academics, according to a local source.

Połack State University (PSU) Rector Juryj Ramanoŭski dismissed lecturers Anastasija Mazho and Śviatłana Panimaščanka, as well as secretaries Kaciaryna Šaŭluha and Taćciana Čarkasava.

Previously, reports came through that PSU fired associate professors Viktar Čaraŭko and Siarhiej Hłazyryn, who spent weeks in jail for disseminating “extremist” content.

It also fired Juryj Kieža, a deputy dean at the engineering department who the source said had donated to opposition foundations.

Śviatłana Nikolina, an executive at the sports department, filed a letter of resignation, according to the source.

Reports suggest that reprisals in the Połack area intensified this spring and involved citizens linked to Połack’s history and culture museum, Navapołack Central City Hospital, academics, and a priest.

Last week, six university deans asked PSU’s management to demote them to lower academic positions because they didn’t want to be complicit “in political reprisals against their colleagues.”

If arrests and dismissals continue, “you can basically shut down PSU,” the region’s leading university, because there will be no PhD holders left, the source said.