Persecution in EHU Case Has Affected 175 People — Viasna

More than 175 people have already faced persecution linked to the “EHU case.” The Viasna Human Rights Center reports this. Earlier, the European Humanities University was designated an extremist organization in Belarus.

“As of Aug. 17, 2026, Viasna human rights defenders know the names of more than 110 EHU students and their family members who have faced persecution in Belarus for studying at EHU. In total, 175 people have been subjected to repression if affected family members of students are included. The number of people affected may be significantly higher, as the authorities are trying to conceal the repression and people are afraid to provide information,” the center said.

Human rights defenders know of more than 60 searches carried out at the homes of graduates, students and other people linked to the university, as well as their relatives. To force students to return from Lithuania, the KGB is threatening their parents with criminal prosecution. They are given 10 days to withdraw from the university. Security forces explicitly say that if their children do not withdraw from EHU, their parents will be detained in connection with a criminal case. Some students’ relatives have already been detained, Viasna reports.

The KGB is also visiting graduates who completed their studies at EHU in 2019-2025. They are required to present their university diplomas.