Go back

Student union wants Belarus out of Higher Education Area

Image: ????? ????????????? ????? [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0], via Flickr

Finland’s student union demands ejection, citing human rights violations against students and others

The National Union of University Students in Finland, which represents all student unions in Finland, has called for Belarus to be thrown out of the European Higher Education Area, a Eurasian standard-setting club, over Belarusian authorities’ response to political protests in the country.

“This week, Belarusian students and young people have taken to the streets with peaceful protests to demand democracy and new elections in Belarus, in continuation of the month-long peaceful demonstrations,” the SYL union said in a statement published on 4 September. 

“Students and even children have been violently detained by masked riot police in public spaces, in schools and in universities.”

SYL said Belarusian authorities had violated the core values of the European Higher Education Area, and called for Belarus to be kicked out of it. The Belarusian government did not respond to a request for comment from Research Professional News.

The EHEA is made up of countries in the Bologna Process, a series of international agreements that set standards and steer policy in higher education. It is largely steered by the EU but includes many non-EU countries, such as Russia and Azerbaijan.

SYL said EU condemnation of the violence in Belarus has not yet had any effect. The EU has said it intends to sanction individuals responsible for violence in the country, and to support civil society with funding.