Reinstated student to be expelled again
A trade union committee of Francis Skaryna Homel State University has decided to expel a student Zmitser Zhaleznichenka from the university. The decisive word is to be said by the dean.
“At the today’s meeting I tried to persuade those present that I hadn’t done the things I am accused of,” Zhaleznichnka said. “And I was accused with use of foul language in a public place. When I went down to the underground walkway, a policeman who was driving by in a car heard me “swearing”.
The situation is even more ambiguous, as the young man has a summons. According to it, he is to go to the draft registration point on January 23 to start military service. “In case nothing extraordinary would take place, I would have to go there. And I’m going to clarify everything there,” the student said. In case of repeated expelling of him, the student is set to go to the court. “I feel full of pep,” Zhaleznichenka underlined.
On January 16 the court of Tsentralny district of Homel has reversed the decision of the dean of the university Alyaksandr Rahachou to expel the student for violation of internal regulations. Zhaleznichenka had a previous administrative conviction for “illegal business activities”. The student had been punished for organizing a concert of Belarusian bards in Homel last autumn.
On January 17 Homel Military commissariat Zhaleznichenka was given a summons. He was ordered to arrive to the draft registration point on January 23 to start military service.
“Earlier I was told I won’t go to he army, as they do not need oppositionists there,” Zhaleznichenka said in an interview to BelaPAN. “But I have sent two complaints to the draft commission. I ask not to be called up in conformity with the Constitution and laws in force, as I am a member of the Belarusian Popular Front party. And according to Article 36 of the Constitution, servicemen cannot be members of political parties. I have also informed the commission in a written form that in case I would be called up I ask to send me to a military unit where all orders would be done in Belarusian. I shall not carry out orders in any other language”.
On January 18 the student received a letter from the trade union of the university. He was invited “for considering the question of his further studies I the university in connection with a previous administrative conviction”. On the same day he was told officially at the staff office of the university that the order of the dean had been annulled after the decision of the court, and bursary is to be accrued to him since the beginning of the academic year.
“What’s the reason for this haste? The decision of the court is to come into force on January 26. They obviously want to return me back to the university in order to expel me again for some hooliganism allegedly performed by me. And in addition, they would manage to send me to the army,” Zhaleznichenka said.