Director's statement on the recent events in Belarus

As Director of the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, I write to express my deep concern about events in Belarus in the aftermath of the 9 August presidential election. 

As one of the UK’s largest academic institutions devoted to research and teaching on the Slavonic and East European region, I am very concerned about the impact of recent events on intellectual freedom and human rights.  I note along with the British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies (BASEES) that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has ‘condemned the violent response of the Belarusian authorities to the peaceful demonstrations held across the country’ following the election.  I read the daily reports of harsh treatment of Belarusian citizens – including electoral candidates and those expressing their opposition to the state suppression of voting rights – with great sorrow and pain.  These actions clearly conflict with the claim by Belarus to be a state based on the rule of law. 

I stand with our colleagues and students from Belarus and elsewhere in the region to call upon the Belarusian authorities to respect the values outlined in its constitution, including the importance of free and fair elections as well as the humane treatment of citizens by the security forces.

Prof Diane P. Koenker

UCL SSEES Director