Thursday, August 13, 2020
Statement Concerning the Detention of Academic Researcher Stas Gorelik
Publish on August 13, 2020
The Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) and the Association for the Study of Nationalities (ASN) express our strong concern over the August 12 detention of our fellow academic researcher Stas Gorelik. Our members conduct research in Eurasia and share interest in the situation in Belarus, and we are among the largest transnational academic societies supporting regional studies.
Gorelik is a doctoral student in political science at George Washington University. His research is not on Belarus, but rather on other countries. He is a Belarusian citizen who had to return home to Minsk in order to renew his U.S. visa. Unfortunately, U.S. policy changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from renewing his visa and returning to Washington to resume his doctoral studies. When protest activity emerged following his country’s presidential election, Gorelik was arrested at his residence in the early hours of August 12.
Gorelik is a member of the worldwide scholarly community that we represent and whose civil and human rights we are mandated to monitor and champion. Given the circumstances of his arrest, as reported by various outlets, Gorelik’s rights have been violated and we therefore urge the reconsideration of the charges against him and appeal to the authorities for his release.
Signed:
Executive Committee, Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies
Board of Directors, Association for the Study of Nationalities
For more information and statements, please vist and share: freestasgorelik.info