3 November 2020 | BYHelp-Mediagroup
Source: TUT.BY
Unrest in universities, parents refuse to pay tuition fees, Speaker of Parliament met with students
On 3 November, unrest among students continued in Belarus. At the Linguistic University, students and teachers defended teacher Natallia Dulina, who was sentenced to 14 days of detention. The collective appeal was signed by graduates and students of the law faculty of the Belarusian State University. A campaign to support expelled students took place at the Academy of Arts.
Parents of students who study at the University of Informatics and Radioelectronics threatened the rector of the educational institution that they would stop paying for their children’s education.
As of today, it is known that about 127 students have been expelled “for violating the rules of the internal order,” but in fact for expressing their civic position.
Source: KYKY
On the same day, the head of the Upper House of Parliament, Natallia Kachanava, met with representatives of strike committees and student activists at the country’s main university, the Belarusian State University. During the event, Natallia Kachanava said: “The way the votes were distributed [in the elections] is true.” Regarding the injuries during the detentions in mid-August, Kachanava said emotionally: “This is not true! This is not true! There was no such thing. There was no such thing. Listen to me, guys. Everything you read on the Internet … Not a single fact of rape, uterine rupture or anything else was recorded. Not a single one! If you do not believe me, I will invite the Minister of Health to come to you.” [Despite all the testimonies of victims, eyewitnesses and doctors, such cases were really not recorded by the investigating authorities. There are also known cases of intimidation of victims and their repeated arrests, so that the relevant applications are not submitted. – Editor’s note]
Source: TUT.BY
Dismissals, solidarity actions, arrests – what happened at companies
Employees of state institutions and companies, as in previous days, continued to be dismissed for their political views – an employee of the Ministry of Emergency Situations who refused to remove a white-red-white flag lost his job; he was also sentenced to 15 days of detention.
Solidarity actions took place at some companies (for example, the Minsk Electrotechnical Plant, where more than 20 people were dismissed the day before).
Despite the layoffs, people continue to protest. A video message was published by a teacher of the Military Academy who had been dismissed, and two employees joined the strike at the country’s largest potash mining company, “Belaruskali”.
The trial of the father of Aliaksandra Herasimenia took place. Arrests of intellectuals and businessmen continue
The father of two-time Olympic Games vice-champion and winner of many World Swimming Championships Aliaksandra Herasimenia was fined. Viktar Herasimenia, a 60-year-old athlete, was detained on 1 November. “I have never been in custody or behind bars before; this is the first time in my life. The people [in the prison cell] were of different ages, from 18 to 60. Educated, normal, adequate, many had their own business,” said Viktar.
Source: TUT.BY
The trials of detainees continued. Among them are a photographer, a journalist, an owner of a bar, doctors – all of them received from 13 to 15 days of detention, including sculptor Henik Loika. The poet Dmitry Strotsev was released – he had served 13 days.
Source: Nasha Niva
Source: Euroradio
Ambassador of Belarus to Argentina dismissed
On 3 November, Uladzimir Astapenka was relieved of his post as Ambassador of Belarus to Argentina, and concurrently Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Peru, in connection with committing an offense incompatible with being in the diplomatic service. Astapenka himself asked twice to be fired due to Lukashenko’s lack of international legitimacy. Upon taking his leave, the diplomat spread out a white-red-white flag and wished Belarusians victory.
The Coordination Council shared what the draft amendment to the Constitution contains
The Coordination Council (a body established at the initiative of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya) announced that it has a draft amendment to the Constitution that was developed by the authorities. Here are the highlights from the document:
- Belarusians are deprived of the right to strike as a way of expressing a political position.
- The universal right to free medical care is canceled.
- Belarusians lose their right to a guaranteed annual paid vacation.
- More restrictions on political parties.
- The priority of international treaties will be fixed.
The first unit of the BelNPP has been included into the country’s energy system. Lithuania has stopped supplies from Belarus
On 3 November, the first power unit of the newly-built Belarusian nuclear power plant, located near the Belarusian-Lithuanian border, was included into the country’s unified energy system. After that, Lithuania immediately announced the termination of electricity supplies from Belarus. The first power unit of the Belarusian NPP is scheduled to be put into commercial operation at the end of February 2021.
For more information on the events of 3 November 2020, please visit Infocenter Free Belarus 2020:
