Czech University opens fellowship program for Belarusian students and academics

Brno, Aug 26 (CTK) – Masaryk University (MU) in Brno has opened a fellowship program for students and academics from Belarus, MU spokeswoman Tereza Fojtová told CTK today, adding that MU has done so in reaction to the latest situation in the Belarus, with its mass protests against Alexander Lukashenko’s regime.

The school is offering a fellowship for 20 students at 10,000-12,000 crowns a month. Persecuted academics can seek a scholarship grant of up to one million crowns a year.

“I have immediately gained support for the declaration of the fellowship program from the deans of all our faculties that are ready to set aside the money from fellowship funds,” MU Rector Martin Bareš said.

“I believe that with this step, we will also motivate other universities and in the spirit of the ideas of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk [Czechoslovak president between 1918 and 1935], we will help them defend themselves by work,” he added.

The university is ready to finance the grants from the internal grant agency.

“The support is designated for excellent academics and scientists from all spheres of natural sciences and arts,” vice rector for science Šárka Pospíšilová said.

The call will be open till mid-September.

Last week, MU expressed deep concern about the events in Belarus after its presidential election, the opposition calls rigged, unfair and undemocratic.

The MU has called on the Belarusian authorities to stop violence and persecution.