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As of 15 February 2026, at least 147 cultural figures, including not less than 30 writers, were not free, either imprisoned or in home confinement.
A new politically motivated criminal case was initiated against Saša Filipienka.
Photographer Palina Vieramiajčuk was convicted in a politically motivated criminal case.
Searches and interrogations took place at the Parason creative space in Minsk. Three people were detained.
An event titled Valentine’s Day with Woody Allen was cancelled at the Haŭryła Vaščanka Art Gallery in Homiel.
The Prosecutor’s Office discovered “extremist books” on marketplaces and booksellers’ websites.
І. Criminal prosecution of cultural figures, authors and performers
1. On 5 February, it became known that a new politically motivated criminal case had been initiated against writer Saša Filipienka (Sasha Filipenko) under Part 2 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code (facilitating extremist activity) for an interview given to the YouTube channel “Obychnoe utro”. A search was conducted at his home in Belarus.
Saša Filipienka reported on his Facebook page: “Today another search took place at my home. This time the case has been opened under Article 361, Part 2. According to the new article, I face another 5-7 years for speaking about my books.”
On 30 September 2025, the Ministry of Information added his novel The Elephant
to the list of publications “the distribution of which is capable of causing harm to the national interests of the Republic of Belarus”. Saša Filipienka supported the 2020 protests and was subsequently forced to leave Belarus. On 14 February 2024, it became known that a criminal case had been opened against him under Part 3 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement of social hatred and discord).
2. On 10 February, it became known that photographer Palina Vieramiаjčuk had been convicted by the Brest Regional Court in a politically motivated criminal case under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code (facilitating extremist activity), reportedly in connection with the so-called “Belarusian Hajun” case for messages sent to a monitoring chat about the movement of Russian military equipment across the territory of Belarus. Palina Vieramiajčuk began her career in wedding photography. In 2023, she described herself on Instagram as a “women’s photographer”, specialising in female portraiture and fashion photography, including work published in Vogue.
II. Detentions of cultural figures
On 10 February, it became known that searches and interrogations took place at the Parason creative space in Minsk. Three individuals were detained. Parason hosted workshops and cultural events dedicated to Belarusian culture.
III. Official symbols in places of incarceration
On 13 February, former political prisoner and human rights defender Uładzimir Łabkovič reported on Facebook that in August 2023 the administration of Penal Colony No. 17 in Škłoŭ displayed Russian flags throughout the facility. According to him, the flags were later removed following a visit by a commission from the Department of Corrections and replaced with the Department’s flag.
IV. Designation of cultural figures’ social media as “extremist”
1. On 3 February 2026, the Puchavičy District Court of Minsk Region designated as “extremist information products” the Instagram account caesarissimus belonging to former political prisoner, journalist and populariser of history Jaŭhien Mierkis, who had previously been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for cooperation with Belsat TV. Jaŭhien Mierkis was released on 11 September 2025 and forcibly expelled to Lithuania.
2. On 5 February 2026, the Puchavičy District Court of Minsk Region designated as “extremist” the Instagram profile of Pavał Chadzinski, known for documenting the Catholic Church in Belarus through photography. In addition to personal photographs, his profile featured numerous images with bishops. He is currently in exile.
V. Censorship
In Homiel, the event Valentine’s Day with Woody Allen was cancelled at the Haŭryła Vaščanka Art Gallery. The programme had included a screening and discussion of romantic comedy-drama Annie Hall, as well as games and visits to exhibitions.
VI. Banned books
On 6 February, it became known that the Prosecutor’s Office had discovered “extremist books” on marketplaces and booksellers’ websites. Among them were Russian-language translations of German memoirs about the Second World War: the memoirs of the Hitlerite general Heinz Guderian, “Panzer Leader”, the diaries of the commander of Army Group Centre, Fedor von Bock — published in Russian as “I Stood at the Gates of Moscow“ (Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock: The War Diary 1939–1945) and Leningrad “Blitzkrieg” 1941–1942 (based on the war diaries of Wilhelm von Leeb and Franz Halder). The owners of the marketplaces and bookshops were issued orders requiring the removal of these books from sale.