As of 15 August 2025, at least 158 cultural figures, including 41 writers, were not free – either imprisoned or in home confinement.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has added cultural promoter Nina Bahinskaja to the “list of individuals associated with extremist activities”.
The Telegram channel Fundacja Tutaka has been designated as “extremist”.
The information materials of the Instagram account Biełaruski martyrałoh (Belarusian Martyrology) have been labelled as “extremist”.
The anti-war novel The Elephant by writer Saša Filipienka (Sasha Filipenko) was withdrawn from sale on the Wildberries marketplace.
The Ministry of Information has added 31 new entries to the list of “banned books”, among them Here They Are, and Here We Are—Belarusian Poetry and Poems of Solidarity.
I. Criminal prosecution of cultural figures, authors, and performers
1. On 2 August, details emerged regarding the detention of artists Ludmiła Ščamialova and Ihar Rymašeŭski. According to information passed to human rights defenders by a detainee who had shared a cell with Ludmiła Ščamialova in the temporary detention centre:
“They came with a search warrant to the home of a man who had one of her paintings. It was neither in white-red-white colours nor protest-themed, but they simply did not like it. Afterwards, they came to search the home of Ludmiła and her husband, Ihar Rymašeŭski. The authorities labelled them an ‘extremist group’ and brought charges under Article 357 of the Criminal Code.”
The information that artists Ludmiła Ščamialova and Ihar Rymašeŭski had been arrested on politically motivated charges was confirmed on 29 November 2024.
2. On 15 August, the Ministry of Internal Affairs added cultural promoter Nina Bahinskaja to the “list of individuals associated with extremist activity”. On 30 May 2025, Minsk’s Pieršamajski District Court held a trial against the 78-year-old under Article 342-2 of the Criminal Code (repeated violation of the procedure for organising or holding mass events) for displaying national symbols on the streets of Minsk in 2024.
The charges were based on administrative offence reports and court rulings issued in 2024 concerning the use of national symbols. One offence report was filed concerning a T-shirt bearing the slogan “No to War!”. Nina Bahinskaya was found guilty of “repeatedly violating the law on mass gatherings”, but the court applied Article 79 of the Criminal Code (conviction without imposition of punishment) and placed her under “preventive supervision”.
II. Conditions in the places of detention
Additional checks continue at border posts upon entry into Belarus, including phone inspections, interrogations, and detentions. Those detained are held in a temporary detention facility in the nearest city until trial, after which they are either fined and released or sentenced to several days of arrest.
Testimonies from detainees describe inhuman conditions in the temporary detention centre in Brest: lack of oxygen in the basement cells, unsanitary conditions, and severe infestations of bedbugs, the bites of which cause intense itching and swelling, and in some cases trigger allergic reactions.
III. Designation of cultural initiatives as “extremist”
1. On 1 August, the Bychaŭ District Court ruled to label the Telegram channel Fundacja Tutaka, which promotes Belarusian culture, as “extremist materials”.
2. On 5 August 2025, Minsk’s Saviecki District Court designated the information materials of the Instagram account belarusianmartyrology (https://instagram.com/belarusianmartyrology) as “extremist”. Belarusian Martyrology is a collection of more than 1,000 portraits of Belarusian political prisoners created by the artist Ksiša Anhiełava. The project, coordinated by Natalla Harkovič within the Christian Vision initiative, is dedicated to preserving the memory of the repressed. Exhibitions of the portraits have been held in several countries, including the capitals of Italy and Denmark, accompanied by performances and public discussions on human rights violations in Belarus.
IV. Repression in the publishing sector and book bans
1. On 3 August, the anti-war novel The Elephant by writer Saša Filipienka (Sasha Filipenko) was removed from sale on the Wildberries marketplace in Belarus. The book had been officially published in Russia by the Vremya publishing house. On the same day, Filipienka shared a link on Facebook to Wildberries, noting: “The Elephant has finally crossed the border, and now it can be purchased not only in Europe but also in Belarus – and nearby.” The book was withdrawn from sale after propaganda channels drew attention to his post. The Belarusian edition, published earlier than the Russian version, was released by Gutenberg Publisher. Filipienka openly supported the 2020 protests and was subsequently forced to leave Belarus. On 14 February 2024, it became known that a criminal case had been initiated against him under Part 3 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement of social hatred and discord).
2. On 4 August, the Ministry of Information updated the list of “printed publications containing informational messages and/or materials whose distribution may harm the national interests of the Republic of Belarus”. 31 books were added to the list, including: Here They Are, and Here We Are: Belarusian Poetry and Poems of Solidarity; Donna Tartt’s The Secret History; Yukio Mishima’s Life for Sale; Vladimir Sorokin’s Marina’s Thirtieth Love; Chuck Palahniuk’s Invisible Monsters; and Ryu Murakami’s Topaz and Ecstasy.