On the 16th of June at 3 p.m. in the Soviet Court of Minsk (Belarus) decision on the case of Ales Krot, who challenged his expultion from the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU), was accepted.

We remind that Ales Krot, activist of “Studentska Rada” (Student Council), despite of good academic results and absence  of other formal reasons was expelled in February of this year from the second year of correspondence department of the Engineering Faculty of BNTU. On the eve the expulsion he had a talk with a dean, who said that “the problem is in your public activity”.

The hearing took place on the 1st of June, but in that time the representative of Ales, a member of trade union of radio electronic industry (profgroup “Studentska Rada”- structural unit of the union), was not allowed to enter the Court, that is why  the claimant had asked to postpone the hearing.

The hearings took place on the 15th of June still. The Court reviewed the submissions of the case, heard both sides (there were 2 representatives from BNTU) and after hearing of arguments it was announced that the Court was closed. Announcement of decision was shifted to the 16th of June, 2 p.m.

Friends of Ales who attended and watched the process comment: “When you are sitting in the Court and you can see absurdity of the other side you have a hope that the decision will be in favor of the expelled student”. But despite the apparent inconsistency of the arguments of the opposite side, until the last moment there was no assurance that  claims will be satisfied.

When everyone was ready to hear the announcement of the decision of the court, was announced that it will be at 3 p.m. There was some suspicions about this situation, however the Court decision was positive for Ales Krot: recognition of the order about his expulsion illegal and restoration as a 2-year student at the department Engineering Faculty of BNTU and reimbursement of costs.

So, the justice was restored after 4 month of campaigning and  attempts to negotiate with the University administration in the Minsk district court.

By the words of witnesses, representatives of BNTU were surprised by this decision and asked to familiar with reasonable part. Likely, after a month we could get a letter with an appeal from the side of the University.

If after consideration of the appeal the Court supports the side of illegal expelled student, Ales Krot will “lost” a year and will be able to continue his education together with students of the second year at the correspondence department of Engineering Faculty of BNTU only in winter semester.

We would like to hope that it will be so. And Ales will continue to get higher education in next winter.