{"id":184022,"date":"2026-04-17T10:18:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T07:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/184022\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T10:18:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T07:18:10","slug":"eu-says-minsk-violates-academic-freedoms-by-blacklisting-exiled-university","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/184022\/","title":{"rendered":"EU says Minsk violates academic freedoms by blacklisting exiled university"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

April 17, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The European External Action Service (EEAS) condemned the “extremist” designation of the European Humanities University (EHU) by Belarus as a “blatant and unjustified attack on academic freedom, freedom of expression, and the fundamental right to education.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The designation is part of a broader pattern of reprisals targeting civil society, independent media and educational actors, the statement said<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vilnius-based EHU is known for providing high-quality education to Belarusian students, including those in exile or facing politically-motivated persecution, while the European Union supports hundreds of its students with scholarships and funding, the EEAS noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLabelling an academic institution as \u2018extremist\u2019 is yet another example of the regime\u2019s systematic efforts to silence critical thinking, intimidate young people, and further dismantle civic space inside as well as outside of Belarus,\u201d the statement said, reaffirming full EU support for the EHU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sweden\u2019s foreign ministry said the attack on EHU was an attack on academic freedom, opportunities for Belarusian youth and on Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTargeting students, academics, and free thought is unacceptable,\u201d the Latvian foreign ministry said. \u201cWe stand in solidarity with the university, its faculty and students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Minsk is trying to \u201ckeep the younger generation trapped within a \u2018Soviet\u2019 orbit and a toxic past, robbing them of a European future.\u201d The diplomat said Ukraine stands firmly with the free youth of Belarus. \u201cThe doors of Ukrainian educational institutions remain open to them,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EHU was founded in Minsk in 1992, but Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka banned it in 2004, forcing it to relocate to Lithuania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to its website, EHU receives support from the EU, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the governments of the Netherlands and Iceland, and other donors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lithuania lodges protest with Belarus over EHU \u201cextremist\u201d designation<\/h3>\n
April 16, Pozirk. Lithuania has lodged a strong protest with Belarus over Minsk's move to designate the Vilnius-based European Humanities University (EHU), as an \u201cextremist" group, says a statement published on the Lithuanian foreign ministry's website. Lithuania condemned the decision …<\/div>\n \n