As of June 10, Viasna human rights defenders have documented more than 40 searches involving graduates, students and other individuals connected to the European Humanities University (EHU), as well as their relatives.
Law enforcement officers are primarily interested in tuition payments made to the university since 2016. In the Vitsyebsk region, searches were also conducted at the homes of former students who had already graduated or left the university without completing their studies.
It should be recalled that the Supreme Court of Belarus designated the Vilnius-based EHU and its structural subdivisions as an “extremist organisation”.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the university prepares 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”.
Human rights defenders have reported the opening of a criminal case under an article related to facilitating and financing “extremist activity”. As part of the investigation, searches are being carried out across the country at the homes of people connected to the university.
Law enforcement officers are interested in tuition payments made to the university since 2016.
