The European Union has condemned the decision by Belarus’s Supreme Court to declare the European Humanities University an “extremist organisation”. The statement was published by the EU’s foreign policy service.
The EU described the decision as “a blatant and unjustified attack on academic freedom, freedom of expression, and the fundamental right to education”.
“The European Humanities University has provided high-quality education to Belarusian students, including those forced into exile due to repression in their own country, for many years. With EU support, hundreds of Belarusian students have benefited from scholarships and living assistance, enabling them to develop their expertise and contribute to their society,” the statement said.
The EU viewed the move as part of the regime’s systematic policy of suppressing critical thinking, intimidating young people and destroying civic space.
“This decision is part of a broader pattern of repression targeting civil society, independent media, and educational actors. The European Union reaffirms its full support for the European Humanities University, its students, faculty, and alumni. We call on the Belarusian authorities to reverse this decision immediately and to cease their ongoing repression against the Belarusian people,” the statement said.
On Tuesday, Belarus’s Supreme Court declared the Vilnius-based European Humanities University, together with its structural subdivisions, an “extremist organisation”.
The Prosecutor General’s Office said that EHU’s activities are supervised by foreign states and foundations and claimed that the university’s work is aimed at “destabilising the socio-political situation” in Belarus.
The Prosecutor General’s Office believes that the university is preparing Belarusian youth “to implement Western scenarios for transforming the political system, promoting so-called democratic values and ‘alternative’ interpretations of historical, cultural and other events”.
