The 2020 rallies of Belarusian students were a vivid example of how young people become agents of change. Many protesters were expelled from educational institutions after the demonstrations, forcing talented young Belarusians to leave the country. After the democratic transition in Belarus, they must be reinstated or compensated for the violation of their rights. The draft Concept of restitution for victims of repression provides a mechanism of compensation for damage for expelled students. Read below for more information.
The draft Concept is available in Russian and Belarusian. Belarusians can share their feedback and proposals through the Telegram bot @AskOffice_Bot, email transitionaljustice@tsikhanouskaya.org, and use the Google form.
1. Students who have been deprived of their right to education due to expressing their opposition to the regime are considered expelled on political grounds. So are the students who have been expelled from educational institutions for participating in protests or signing petitions.
2. Once an individual's expulsion has been recognized as politically motivated, they are eligible for restoration of their rights and compensation of further educational expenses. Those who have been forced into exile and had to continue their education abroad also receive compensation for their educational expenses. Students who were studying on a paid basis in Belarusian universities and have been expelled on political grounds are refunded their educational expenses.
3. If a student, who had studied at a government-subsidized program, has been forced to compensate for the expenses following the politically motivated expulsion, they are eligible for a refund and can be reinstated in the educational institution.
4. Students expelled on political grounds can be reinstated in their educational institution regardless of the formal grounds. Even if a student has quit studies independently, their right to reinstatement is preserved.
Each case is considered by the Commission for the Restoration of Justice on an individual basis. Evidence of political persecution can include materials from criminal cases initiated on political grounds, detention protocols, search warrants, court rulings on administrative cases, witness statements, information obtained from NGOs, and publications in the media.
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