Lithuania’s Education Ministry on Wednesday condemned Belarus’ decision to designate the Vilnius-based European Humanities University as an “extremist organisation”, calling it a serious violation of academic freedom.
In a statement, the ministry said the ruling by the Supreme Court of Belarus was unprecedented and amounted to a gross infringement of university autonomy, as well as human rights and freedoms.
The ministry said it plans to turn to the European Commission and EU higher education ministers, urging a unified response and condemnation of Minsk’s actions against the academic community.
The statement followed an April 14 ruling by Belarus’ top court declaring EHU an extremist organisation. The decision was first reported Tuesday by independent Belarusian outlet Nasha Niva.
Belarusian authorities claim the university is engaged in efforts to destabilise the country’s social and political situation and allege it is being used by foreign intelligence services to harm national interests.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys criticised the decision on the social media platform X, reaffirming Lithuania’s support for the institution.
“This poses a serious risk to students, faculty and their families, and hinders access to independent and impartial education. This is another hostile act by the [Alexander] Lukashenko regime against Lithuania and the EU. We stand ready to support the EHU community,” he said.
Sweden also voiced concern, with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs calling the ruling an attack on academic freedom and the opportunities available to Belarusian youth.
“Sweden is a long-standing supporter of EHU, and we stand in solidarity with the university, its staff and students, as well as with Lithuania,” the ministry said.
Founded in Minsk in 1992, EHU was forced to close in Belarus in 2004 for political reasons and later relocated to Vilnius with support from Lithuania, the European Commission, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the United States and several European countries.
In 2006, the university was granted a license to operate as a higher education institution in Lithuania.
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