As of 29 February 2024, at least 161 cultural figures, including not less than 36 People of the Word, were behind bars.
Political prisoner, and publicist Ihar Lednik, convicted for publishing an article titled “The internationally recognised neutrality of Belarus – a guarantee of security in the OSCE region”, died.
Culturologist Ksenija Chodyrava was sentenced to five years in a minimum-security penal colony for donations.
Minimum Distancii music band member Ženia Šum was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom in home confinement.
A criminal case was opened against video operator and documentary filmmaker Jaŭhien Hlušakoŭ.
Bard Siarhiej Čarniak was arrested for 15 days.
Historian civil activist Vasil Paliakoŭ was convicted for the third time.
Ceramic artist Alena Karpienka was detained.
Musician Aliaksiej Pietryk, who sang the unofficial protesters’ anthem, Mury (Walls), was detained.
- Politically motivated criminal cases against cultural workers, authors and performers
1. On 16 February, the Minsk City Court ruled to sentence cultural expert Ksenija Chodyrava to five years in a minimum-security penal colony for donations under two articles of the Criminal Code: art. 361.2 (financing an extremist formation) and Part 2 of Art. 361.3 (financing participation on the territory of a foreign state in an armed formation, armed conflict, or combat). Ksenija Chodyrava was detained on 10 October 2023. She was held first in the KGB pre-trial detention centre and then in pre-trial detention centre No. 1. Ksenija Chodyrava graduated from the Faculty of Socio-Cultural Communications of Belarus State University, majoring in the Department of Cultural Studies. She was recognised as the Best BSU Alumnus 2018 nominee.
2. On 16 February, the Minimum Distancii music band member Ženia Šum’s trial took place at Minsk’s Central District Court. The musician was detained after returning from Poland. He was charged with participating in protest actions in 2020 under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code. Ženia Šum was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom in home confinement.
3. It became known on 20 February that a criminal case was opened in Mahilioŭ against video operator and documentary filmmaker Jaŭhien Hlušakoŭ under Art. 361.1 of the Criminal Code (creating or participating in an extremist formation).
II. Politically motivated administrative detentions and arrests of cultural figures
1. It became known on 22 February that in Lida, Hrodna region, bard Siarhiej Čarniak was arrested for 15 days for an administrative offence.
2. On 23 February, Homiel’s Saviecki District Court convicted historian and civic activist Vasil Paliakoŭ for a third time under Art. 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences (dissemination of extremist products) for subscribing to independent news outlets. Vasil Paliakoŭ has remained behind bars for more than 30 days.
3. On 25 February, ceramic artist Alena Karpienka was detained after casting her election ballot in Minsk. She is accused of photographing the polling station and sending the photo to independent news websites.
4. On 26 February in Hrodna, police detained street musician Aliaksiej Pietryk, who sang the song Mury (Walls). In a video shot by police officers, Aliaksiej Pietryk says he was arrested for reposts on the VKontakte social network. The video footage of the arrest shows plainclothes people hitting the musician before he fell to the ground. Aliaksiej Pietryk was placed in a detention centre. He is facing charges of participating in protests and commenting on the Internet. As of writing, the status of the detainee remains unknown.
III. Repression for using Belarusian and Ukrainian national symbols
1. Former history teacher Arciom Stadolnik was arrested for three days in Dokšycy, Viciebsk region. He was convicted under Art. 24.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences (unauthorised picketing) for an 18 January 2021 Instagram post depicting a picture of a car with the Pahonia emblem sticker.
2. On 28 February, video footage of police officers breaking into the apartment of a psychologist from Homiel, Ala Martynovič, appeared on the Internet. Photos of the vandalised rooms were also published online. The video focused on the objects in national white-red-white colours: napkins, tablecloths, and ribbons. Ala Martynovič is a psychologist with 20 years of experience and a participant in the 2020 post-election protests. In 2021, police raided her home and workplace. She spent 15 days in a detention centre and was eventually fired from the Further Education Institute. Due to political persecution, she had to leave Belarus. The text accompanying the video footage of the apartment destruction emphasises national symbols. The video contained captions that Ala Martynovič currently “brainwashes people with political scum, travelling around European countries with white-red-white rags.” Authorities opened a criminal case against Ala Martynovič under Art. 361.1 (creating or participating in an extremist formation).
IV. Death in places of confinement, torture of prisoners
On 20 February, political prisoner and publicist Ihar Lednik, convicted for his publication “Internationally recognised neutrality of Belarus – a guarantee of security in the OSCE region”, died. A Belarus court found that the article contained “false information that disgraces and humiliates the honour and dignity of Lukašenka, accuses him of gross crimes, including the crimes against humanity.” Ihar Lednik was detained on 12 April 2022 and sentenced to three years of imprisonment for defamation of the president under Art. 367 of the Criminal Code. He died from cardiac arrest in the Minsk District Hospital, where he was admitted from the penal colony in Babrujsk.
V. Dismissals in cultural institutions
The Minsk Regional Puppet Theatre ‘Batlejka’ did not renew contracts with seven employees. The theatre director was fired.