As of 15 March 2024, at least 165 cultural figures, including not less than 36 People of the Word, were behind bars.
Special proceedings were opened in the criminal cases against writer, historian and human rights defender Uladzimir Chilmanovič, the founder of the Belarusian souvenirs shop “Admietnaść” in Hrodna, Siarhiej Vieramiejenka; the founder of the Belarusian souvenirs shop “Cudoŭnaja Krama” in Orša Ihar Kazmierčak; psychologist, author of the book about the children of political prisoners From Two to Fifteen: My Mother is in Prison, Volha Vialička. Special proceedings mean a trial procedure in absentia, which is applied when a defendant is outside the borders of Belarus.
Cultural figures imprisoned in politically motivated criminal cases, including Nobel Prize laureate, writer and human rights defender Aleś Bialiatski, remain incommunicado in penal colonies.
Street musician Aliaksiej Niabośka, aka Liocha Pavuk, was detained in Viciebsk.
The Ministry of Culture in Minsk cancelled screenings of films with the participation of directors Alexander Sokurov and Alexander Zolotukhin.
I. Politically motivated criminal cases against cultural workers, authors and performers
1. On 6 March, the names of the architects arrested in Minsk on 14 February 2024 in politically motivated criminal proceedings became known. Human rights activists recognized Raman Zabiela, Illja Palonski, Maksim Nazarčuk and Dar’ja Mandzik as political prisoners. The architects are charged under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (group actions that grossly violate public order).
2. On 13 March, authorities in Belarus opened special proceedings in the criminal case against writer, historian and human rights defender Uladzimir Chilmanovič from Hrodna. He is charged under Part 1 and Part 2 of Art. 361.4 of the Criminal Code (facilitating extremist activity). Uladzimir Chilmanovič is the author of the Belarusian Calendar-Guide for Every Day and the book of essays on local history titled The Belarusian Gold. Since 2021, he has been living outside Belarus.
3. On 13 March, special proceedings were opened in the criminal case against psychologist Volha Vialička, author of the book From Two to Fifteen: My Mother is in Prison about the children of political prisoners and the former head of a children’s hospice in Hrodna. Volha Vialička left Belarus in the autumn of 2020 due to politically motivated persecution. She is charged under seven articles of the Criminal Code: Part 1, Art. 130 (inciting enmity), Art. 193.1 (illegal organization of the activities of a public association, religious organization or foundation or participation in their activities), Part 3 of Art. 203.1 (illegal actions regarding information about private life and personal data), Part 3 of Art. 210 (intention to seize property in a large amount by an official), Part 1, Art. 342 (active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order); Part 1, Part 2 art. 361.4 (engaging in extremist activities), Part 2 of Art. 367 (defamation of the president).
4. On 13 March, authorities in Belarus opened special proceedings in the criminal case against Ihar Kazmierčak, the founder of the Belarusian souvenirs and symbols store “Cudoŭnaja Krama”. Ihar Kazmierčak is charged under Part 1, Part 2 of Art. 361.4 (engaging in extremist activities) and Part 1 of Art. 368 of the Criminal Code (insulting the president). Since 2021, Ihar Kazmierčak has been living outside Belarus.
5. On 13 March, special proceedings were opened in the criminal case of Siarhiej Vieramiejenka, the former owner of the Belarusian souvenir shop “Admietnaść” in Hrodna. Siarhiej Vieramiejenka is charged under Part 1 and Part 2 of Art. 361.4 of the Criminal Code (engaging in extremist activity).
II. Politically motivated administrative detentions and arrests of cultural figures
Street musician Aliaksiej Niabośka (Liocha Pavuk) was detained in Viciebsk under Article 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences. He has a law degree but worked as a bus driver and sang in the streets and on commuter trains.
III. Repression for using Belarusian and Ukrainian national symbols
Swimmer Dzmitry Ščemier was detained for a cover case with the “Pray for Belarus” inscription.
IV. Conditions of confinement, torture of prisoners
Cultural figures imprisoned in politically motivated criminal cases remain incommunicado in Belarusian penal colonies. Incommunicado means a convict is deprived of the right to correspond and meet with family members. Incommunicado is used, among other things, to the Nobel laureate, writer and human rights defender Aleś Bialiacki (Ales Bialiatski) at the correctional colony No. 9 in Horki, Mahilioŭ region.
V. Censorship
On 11 March, the Ministry of Culture cancelled the screenings of films with the participation of director Alexander Sakurov and director Alexander Zolotukhin, scheduled for 11-13 March in Minsk. Alexander Sakurov was to present his new film Fairytale and the 2005 movie Sun. Alexander Zolotukhin planned to present his film A Russian Boy.
VI. Repression in the book sector
On 1 March, the prosecutor’s office of the Homiel district ordered to exclude Alhierd Bacharevič’s book Dogs of Europe from the Bestbooks.by online catalogue in light of the 2022 decision by the Ministry of Information to designate the book as “extremist material.” The prosecutor of the Homiel district notified the private book-selling company Knihahrad, ordering the exclusion of the book from the catalogue of goods.