Lukashenka replaces rectors in three universities amid ongoing student protests


New rectors of three universities — two from Minsk and one from Brest — have been appointed by Alyaksandr Lukashenka on October 20, Lukashenka’s press service reported.

Natallya Laptseva became the rector of the Minsk State Linguistic University (MSLU) (before that she headed the German language department there).

Natallya Karcheuskaya (former Deputy Minister of Culture) was appointed the head of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Art.

Brest State Technical University is now headed by Alyaksandr Bakhanovich (ex-Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of BNTU).

BSUIR students have held another solidarity event with detained students and factory workers. It took place on the steps of their educational institution.

Where the former heads of these educational institutions will go is unknown.

MSLU and BrSTU students took part in protests against the change of their rectors.

Earlier, Lukashenka expressed dissatisfaction with student protests and threatened to make personnel changes.

Students of the Biological Faculty of BSU support students of MSLU. September 7, 2020
Photo: Iryna Arakhouskaya / belsat.eu

“The behavior of some of the students shows their, to put it mildly, careless attitude towards higher education. This can lead to the loss of its value as a significant social stage, he stressed”. “University rectors are not doing enough. In the near future, within a week, we must solve the staff problem of suchlike universities,” Lukashenka said at a meeting on October 9.

Recently, the Ministry of Education, together with the Ministry of Finance, issued a decree stating that students with 10 hours of absenteeism will be deprived of scholarships. This decision also aims to repress protesters.

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