Belarusian student of VŠE Pavel Rubtsou received an award from the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research
A Belarusian student named Pavel Rubtsou, who is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International and Diplomatic Studies at the Faculty of International Relations, received an award from the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research in the category “International Participant Coming to the Czech Republic” in 2022. The award was presented to him during an evening ceremony at Slovanský Dům in Prague on Thursday, 23rd March 2023.
During his studies at the Belarusian State University in Minsk in 2020, Pavel participated in protests against the Lukashenka regime, which led to his expulsion and threats of prosecution and other forms of persecution.
In 2020, VŠE announced a project supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports that aimed to help university students who had been persecuted and were unable to continue their studies in Belarus. Pavel utilized this opportunity and joined VŠE in the Spring Semester of 2021. In the fall of 2022, he received a special grant called EU4Belarus – SALT, which was aimed at supporting students from Belarus. A total of 15 Belarusian students in the Czech Republic successfully applied and received financial support from this project.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had a profound impact on Pavel, and he immediately volunteered to help Ukrainian refugees. He acted as an interpreter and assisted them with accommodation and integration into Czech society. Ukraine holds a special place in Pavel’s heart, as it is home to a part of his family, including his mother. He found it heart-breaking to see his own country supporting an aggression against a nation that shares cultural and historical ties with Ukraine.
Pavel’s relocation to Czechia was a turning point for him. His proactive approach and inspiring story as well as his exchange abroad at our partner institution in Germany helped spread the good reputation of the university. He is an inspiration not only to our international students but to anyone who is willing to make an effort and overcome obstacles to achieve their goals and make their dreams come true.