NB:<\/em> For users’ information security, we do not provide direct links to sources if they are subject to restrictions under the regulations currently in force in the Republic of Belarus.<\/em><\/p>\n Main results<\/a> The year 2024 marked the third year of imprisonment for Nobel Peace Prize laureate, human rights activist, and literary scholar Ale\u015b Bialacki, along with at least 103 other political prisoners [1]<\/a> from the cultural field behind bars. Including those serving sentences in home confinement, the number reached at least 168 people by the end of the year.<\/p>\n This year has also seen over 18 months of complete isolation (incommunicado) for imprisoned cultural figures Maksim Znak, Maryja Kalesnikava, Viktar Babaryka, and Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski.<\/p>\n Other high-profile violations included:<\/p>\n Transnational persecution intensified:<\/p>\n New cases of political and ideological censorship:<\/p>\n Expansion of “Extremist” designations:<\/p>\n The Ministry of Information banned 35 books, mostly related to LGBT themes and anime, mainly published by Russian publishers. More historical and cultural heritage sites were destroyed, and discrimination against the Belarusian language persisted. Repression for using national symbols \u2013 the white-red-white flag and the Pahonia coat of arms \u2013 continued.<\/p>\n 2024 marked the 30th year of Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka’s rule. The official celebrations orchestrated for this anniversary were a stark illustration of how culture has been transformed into a tool for serving the regime.<\/p>\n At the end of the year, a new Minister of Culture was appointed, with Lukashenka giving him a clear directive<\/a>: “Either die or bring order to this sector”.<\/p>\n Violations of the right to a fair trial<\/span> and the designation of culture-related materials<\/span> (or social media pages of cultural figures) as “extremist”<\/span> were the most common violations observed by the monitoring team.<\/p>\n For cultural figures \u2013 violations of the right to a fair trial (311 cases), arbitrary detentions\/arrests (129), and criminal prosecution (117).<\/p>\n For organisations and communities \u2013 the most frequently recorded violations included administrative obstruction, including forced liquidation (85 cases), and violations of the right to a fair trial and freedom of association (39 cases, correspondingly).<\/p>\n As of 31 December 2024, at least 104<\/span> political prisoners from the cultural sphere were behind bars. According to the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, Belarus had a total of 1,265 political prisoners. At least 168<\/span> cultural figures, including 37<\/span> People of Word (writers, poets, culture journalists, etc.), were either imprisoned or serving their home confinement terms.<\/p>\n In 2024, at least 56<\/span> cultural figures were recognised as political prisoners, including 7 people post facto [7]<\/a>. At least 49<\/span> were released during this period, including 34 cultural figures who completed prison sentences ranging from one to four years, 14 who were granted early release through pardons [8]<\/a>, and one person (a Ukrainian citizen) released through a prisoner exchange [9]<\/a>.<\/p>\n At least 129<\/span> cultural figures were arbitrarily detained or arrested. 95<\/span> cultural figures were subjected to administrative punishment (the police filed 105 administrative offence reports). At least 117<\/span> cultural figures faced criminal prosecution. In 20 cases, special proceedings were initiated, i.e. trials in absentia against individuals who had fled Belarus for safety. At least 88<\/span> cultural figures were convicted, including 75 through in-person trials and 13 via trials in absentia.<\/p>\n 7<\/span> cultural figures were included in the “List of Organisations and Individuals Involved in Terrorist Activities”, 64<\/span> \u2013 to the “List of Belarusian Citizens, Foreign Citizens, or Stateless Persons Involved in Extremist Activities”.<\/p>\n It is known about politically motivated dismissals of 45<\/span> cultural figures.<\/p>\n At least 39<\/span> cultural associations were forcibly dissolved.<\/p>\n The Belarusian Ministry of Information added at least 289<\/span> culture-related materials or social media accounts of cultural figures to the “List of Extremist Materials”.<\/p>\n 133<\/span> censorship cases were recorded, affecting art exhibitions, concerts, theatre plays, film screenings, books, and public performances.<\/p>\n 55<\/span> violations concerning the preservation of heritage sites (officially designated as historical-cultural monuments and those without such status) and the culture of remembrance were documented.<\/p>\n The persecution of cultural figures continues even in places of incarceration. “Special treatment” conditions are created for those serving home confinement sentences. Those who have walked out after serving their terms are not left alone.<\/p>\n By the end of 2024, at least 168 cultural figures in Belarus were either behind bars or in home confinement.<\/p>\n In 2024, violations of conditions in the places of incarceration were recorded in relation to 40 individuals. This is undoubtedly only a fraction of the persecution that cultural figures imprisoned for political reasons face daily. Over time, former political prisoners have become the primary source of information about torture and inhumane treatment in places of incarceration after their release.<\/p>\n Information blackouts, isolation from other prisoners, placement in solitary confinement, punitive confinement, transfer to a stricter prison regime, deprivation of correspondence and care packages, bans on purchasing goods, disciplinary sanctions, provocations, forced hard labour, and denial of outdoor walks \u2013 all these apply to those serving criminal sentences. For administrative detainees, the situation includes overcrowded cells, lice, bedbugs, extreme cold, sleeping on the floor, daily searches with belongings scattered, nighttime inspections, placement with homeless individuals, and strip searches. These are just some of the physical and psychological pressures imposed on political prisoners, turning their imprisonment into a daily struggle for survival. Deterioration of health, in some cases rapidly worsening, is one of the consequences of these conditions and the mistreatment of the cultural figures behind bars.<\/p>\n At least 14 cultural figures with serious health issues remain imprisoned: Viktar Babaryka, Ale\u015b Bialacki, Ja\u016dhien Bur\u0142o, Alena Hna\u016dk, U\u0142adzimir Hundar, Hienad\u017a Drazdo\u016d, Ihar Jarmo\u0142a\u016d, Dzianis Iva\u0161yn, Maryja Kalesnikava, U\u0142adzimir Mackievi\u010d, Vac\u0142a\u016d Are\u0161ka, Alaksiej Parecki, Andrej Pa\u010dobut (Andrzej Poczobut), and Alaksandr Fiaduta. Despite their conditions, they are forced into hard labour, frequently placed in solitary confinement, and subjected to a stricter prison regime. Testimonies from released prisoners indicate that medical assistance is either nonexistent, delayed, or inadequate.<\/p>\n Total isolation (incommunicado<\/span>) means a prisoner is cut off from the outside world: no contact with family, friends, lawyers, or fellow inmates.<\/p>\n As of December 31, 2024, lawyer, writer, and bard Maksim Znak has been in an information blackout for 692<\/strong> days (the last letter his family received was dated 9 February 2023). Cultural manager, video blogger, and political figure Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski has been isolated for 663 <\/strong>days (since 9 March 2023). Musician, cultural projects manager, and public figure Maryja Kalesnikava endured 639<\/strong> days incommunicado before Belarusian authorities permitted her to meet her father on 12 November 2024. Since then, communication with her has ceased again. Philanthropist and political figure Viktar Babaryka [11]<\/a> has been cut off from communication for 616 <\/strong>days (since 26 April 2023). Anarchist and prison literature author Alaksandr Franckievi\u010d has been in total isolation for 70 <\/strong>days (since late October 2024). Activist and local history amateur U\u0142adzimir Hundar was held incommunicado from May to August 2024.<\/p>\n Punitive confinement<\/span> is used as a punishment and form of pressure. In Belarusian prisons, it is a tiny cell with a cement floor, minimal furniture, freezing temperatures in winter, extreme heat in summer, constant artificial lighting, and a lack of outdoor walks and other restrictions.<\/p>\n According to the Viasna Human Rights Center, musician and IT specialist Vadzim Hulevi\u010d spent nearly three months in punitive confinement (from 10 November 2023 to the end of January 2024). Journalist Andrej Pa\u010dobut (Andrzej Poczobut) was consecutively placed in punitive confinement for several months. As of August 2024, anarchist and prison literature writer Mika\u0142aj Dziadok had already spent two months in punitive confinement. Poet, bard, and lawyer Maksim Znak is almost constantly placed there. Dzmitry Da\u0161kievi\u010d, an activist and publicist, was placed in punitive confinement after being transferred to a penal colony in January 2024. It was so cold inside that he had to wake up every hour and exercise just to stay warm \u2013 an action for which he was disciplined for violating the nighttime rest regime. Other cultural figures placed in punitive confinement include Ale\u015b Bialacki, Ihar Alinievi\u010d, Dzmitry Kubara\u016d, Alaksiej Ku\u017ami\u010d, Dzianis Iva\u0161yn, and Natalla Piatrovi\u010d.<\/p>\n !<\/strong> <\/span>On 12 July 2024, a new law came into force in Belarus, increasing the maximum single period in punitive confinement from 10 to 15 days<\/strong>.<\/p>\n A cell-type room<\/span> is a long-term solitary isolation unit inside a prison similar to punitive confinement, where prisoners are denied parcels and visits. In 2024, a cell-type room was used against Maryja Kalesnikava, Eduard Babaryka, Andrej Pa\u010dobut, Artur Amira\u016d, Rus\u0142an \u0141abanok, Ihar Karniej, and Maksim Znak.<\/p>\n Temporary transfer to a stricter prison regime<\/span> is yet another form of isolation with even harsher conditions than penal colonies. Courts ruled a stricter prison regime for Michai\u0142 \u0141aba\u0144, owner of the “Samarodak” jewellery workshop (in May 2024) and writer and programmer Alaksiej Navahrodski (in December 2024).<\/p>\n Sentence extension<\/span> by opening new criminal cases under Article 411 of the Criminal Code (persistent disobedience to prison administration) is another form of persecution and punishment. In 2024, at least six cultural figures received extended sentences under Article 411: Eduard Babaryka, Ivan Viarbicki, Dzmitry Da\u0161kievi\u010d, Alaksandr Franckievi\u010d, Pavie\u0142 Spiryn, and Ihar Karniej. Additional sentences ranged from eight months to two years in prison. For Ivan Viarbicki, this was a repeated politically motivated sentence extension.<\/p>\n After being held in the conditions created for political prisoners in Belarusian prisons, cultural figures often leave places of incarceration with deteriorated eyesight, severe dental issues, exacerbated chronic illnesses, and other serious health problems \u2013 sometimes critical and irreversible. On 22 September 2024, punk musician Viktar “Mao” \u017darkievi\u010d died at his home due to heart failure, reportedly caused by severe health deterioration after his brutal detention in September 2022 and 13 days in the detention centre on Akrescina Street in Minsk.<\/p>\n In May 2024, a report<\/a> by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus, Ana\u00efs Marin, highlighted numerous instances of callous treatment of prisoners incarcerated for political.<\/p>\n In 2024, there were 129 documented arbitrary detentions (or arrests) of cultural figures \u2013 musicians and artists, architects and writers, ethnographers and sound engineers, photographers and actors, event hosts and directors of event agencies, illustrators and historians, designers and librarians, artisans and local historians, humanities teachers, and other representatives of Belarusian culture.<\/p>\n Group detentions targeted professional or social groups, such as architects, event hosts, event agency directors, regional journalists, actors. Sometimes, married couples were detained together, as was the case with artists Ludmi\u0142a \u0160\u010damialova\u00a0and\u00a0Ihar Ryma\u0161e\u016dski. Detentions are often carried out brutally: when video operator and journalist Ja\u016dhien H\u0142u\u0161ko\u016d did not open his door, police operatives stormed his apartment, dragging him outside in his home clothes. The former head of the Jewish community, Raman Smirno\u016d, was detained by Typhoon special unit commandoes.<\/p>\n Some detained cultural figures were forced to record so-called “repentant videos”, a humiliating and inhumane practice by security forces. One such case occurred on 5 January 2024, when members of the Nizkiz rock band were detained immediately upon returning to Belarus from a tour. The musicians were forced to “confess” on camera that they had gone out during the 2020 protests “to participate in riots”, performed songs for protesters, including for the independent media outlet Belsat<\/em>.<\/p>\n Under duress, detained cultural figures were forced into “confessing” to a variety of actions: participating in the 2020 protests, stepping onto the roadway during demonstrations, taking pictures with the white-red-white flag, and posting critical comments about the authorities on social media. They were also forced to admit to registering in the Pieramoha (Victory) chat-bot [12]<\/a>, sending data on police officers and other government officials to the “Black Book of Belarus” [13]<\/a> Telegram channel, voting for Sviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja in the 2020 elections, expressing negative views about Russian soldiers and supporting Ukraine, subscribing to groups labelled “extremist” by the regime, and other similar “violations”. In some cases, they were compelled to disclose their sexual orientation or income level, “repent” for their actions and publicly apologise.<\/p>\n We do not have information about the fate of every fifth detained cultural figure: whether they faced administrative punishment, criminal cases were opened against them, or they were released. This is just one of the current trends \u2013 significant difficulties or prolonged delays in obtaining reliable data on repressions. For example, it wasn’t until mid-January 2025 that information surfaced about an upcoming criminal trial against choir member Daniel-Landsey Keita, who had been detained in Hrodna as far back as June 2024. And there are many such stories.<\/p>\n The People’s Master of Belarus, director of a puppet theatre, leader of the best cultural collective in the district, Person of the Year of Viciebsk Region, winner of the district competition “Teacher of the Year 2014”, best cultural worker of Prydvi\u0144nie, a well-known accordionist in the Haradok district, director of the rural House of Culture, and dozens of other cultural figures faced politically motivated administrative persecution \u2013 receiving fines or being sentenced to administrative arrest \u2013 in 2024.<\/p>\n In 2024, courts heard at least 105 administrative cases against 95 cultural figures. The articles under which individuals were held accountable are known in 81 cases.<\/p>\n In 74\u00a0% of cases (60 offence reports), punishment was related to the alleged distribution of extremist materials<\/span> (Article 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences) \u2013 for subscriptions to independent media and platforms on social networks (Zerkalo<\/em>, Radio Svaboda<\/em>, Novosti Grodno, Honest People<\/em>, and others), as well as for using the logos of Belsat<\/em>, Euroradio<\/em>, and other independent news outlets in their profiles. In such cases, cultural figures were subjected to administrative punishment by arrest for 5\u201315 days or fines between 400 and 5,400 BYN (~117\u20131,580 USD).<\/p>\n There were documented cases where subscriptions to prohibited content appeared on a person’s phone after police or other security officials checked it.<\/p>\n Almost in 14\u00a0% of known rulings (11 offence reports), courts issued administrative penalties (days of arrest or fines) for alleged picketing<\/span> on social networks \u2013 displaying the white-red-white flag or the ‘Pahonia’ coat of arms (Article 24.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences). For example, one Belarusian writer was fined 1,400 BYN (~410 USD) for “posting a graphic image with the design of a white-red-white banner with the ‘Pahonia’ coat of arms, thus publicly expressing his personal and other interests regarding the events of socio-political life <...> without the appropriate permission of local executive and administrative bodies”. The use of the term “banner” in official documents also reflects the current authorities’ attitude towards historical heritage.<\/p>\n In some cases, cultural figures were punished under the article dealing with “petty hooliganism”<\/span> (Article 19.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences). They were accused of using foul language, displaying aggressive behaviour, waving their arms, and ignoring police warnings. All charges were formulated in a template manner as if copied. Punishments ranged from 13 to 15 days of arrest for actions that, judging by the circumstances, none of the accused committed.<\/p>\n In two out of three cases, courts issued arrest rulings, and almost every second verdict envisaged 15 days of arrest \u2013 the maximum punishment.<\/p>\n In 2024, at least 117 cultural figures were subjected to criminal prosecution, 88 people who were convicted. One in three recorded cases and one in seven sentences involved political emigrants \u2013 more details in the Persecution of Exiled Figures<\/a> section. This one focuses on repressions within the country.<\/p>\n In 2024, courts issued at least 77 sentences to 75 cultural figures. Musician Dzmitry \u0160a\u0142ak [14]<\/a> and journalist, author of texts on Belarus’s cultural and historical heritage, Ihar Karniej, were convicted twice during the reporting period. This was not the first sentence for eight individuals convicted in 2024; some received their third or fourth “court” verdict.<\/p>\n Participation in the 2020 peaceful protests<\/span> remained the most common reason for criminal prosecution. Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (Organising, preparing or actively participating in actions that grossly violate public order) featured in the charges against nearly every second convicted cultural figure (35 people). 31 individuals were convicted solely under this article, with most (24 cultural figures) sentenced to home confinement for terms between 30 and 36 months. Event host and cultural manager Jahor Zien\u010danka, Belarusian language teacher Alena Stachiejka, tour guide Alaksandr Nikicin, and break-dancer and worker Dzmitry Michalcevi\u010d received between one and two years in a penal colony under this article. Musician Dzmitry H\u0142u\u0161\u010danka was sentenced to restricted freedom in an open-type institution (pardoned in December 2024).<\/p>\n The second most frequently applied charges were “facilitating extremist activities”<\/span> (Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code) and “insulting the president of the Republic of Belarus”<\/span> (Article 368 of the Criminal Code). These articles featured in the cases against ten cultural figures. Six people were convicted solely under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code. Musician Hleb Dudko, historian Ihar Mielnika\u016d, librarian Iryna Pahadajeva (pardoned in December 2024), and English language tutor Larysa Katovi\u010d were sentenced to imprisonment. Designer Natalla Kremis and craftswoman Natalla Charytonava-Kry\u017eevi\u010d were punished with home confinement.<\/p>\n In most cases, the grounds for prosecution remain unknown, partly due to the closed nature of trials. It is only known that Iryna Pahadajeva was convicted for expressing solidarity with political prisoners (more details in the section describing the Gender dimension of violations<\/a>). When the accused was brought into the courtroom, the judge requested that her handcuffs be removed. Still, the convoy referred to an order from the Ministry of Internal Affairs requiring defendants under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code to remain cuffed. Historian and Ph.D. in history Ihar Mielnika\u016d was convicted<\/a> for his interviews and comments to Euroradio <\/em>[15]<\/a> in 2022. Back in the time, the regime had not yet designated this media outlet an “extremist formation”. One month before the sentence, three of Mielnika\u016d’s scientific books were included in the list of “extremist materials”. Three cultural figures \u2013 sound engineer Dzmitry Famin, former head of the Jewish community Raman Smirno\u016d, and photographer U\u0142adzis\u0142a\u016d Ko\u0161ale\u016d \u2013 were convicted under Article 368 of the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n Charges of allegedly “creating or participating in an extremist formation”<\/span> (Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code) featured in the cases against nine cultural figures. Five people were convicted solely under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code. For example, journalist Ihar Karniej, engineer and architectural photo database creator U\u0142adzimir Fi\u0161man, photographer and documentary filmmaker Alaksandr Zia\u0144ko\u016d, linguist Nastassia Macia\u0161 (pardoned in December 2024), and event host Ja\u016dhien Sciapana\u016d were sentenced to two or three years in a penal colony. According to the prosecution<\/a>, Ihar Karniej cooperated with the Belarusian Association of Journalists \u2013 a public association forcibly liquidated in August 2021 and declared an “extremist formation” by the KGB in 2023. The punishment he received was three years in a penal colony and a 20,000 BYN (~6,000 USD) fine. Linguist Nastassia Macia\u0161 was convicted<\/a> for language consultations, translations, and text editing she did for Belsat.<\/em> She received two years in a penal colony, was fined 20,000 BYN, and was ordered to pay 102,415 BYN (~30,000 USD) as compensation for allegedly illegal income.<\/p>\n Of the 75 convicted cultural figures:<\/p>\n Convictions by month in 2024:<\/p>\n January<\/u><\/span>: engineer and architectural photo database creator U\u0142adzimir Fi\u0161man<\/strong> (incriminated under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code (CC), penal colony [16]<\/a>); writer, poet and activist Aleh Kacapa\u016d<\/strong> (Articles 130 and 368 of the CC, 2.5 years in a penal colony); photographer Alaksandr Vasiukovi\u010d<\/strong> (Article 342 of the CC, 3 years in home confinement); photographer and documentary filmmaker Arciom Zianko\u016d<\/strong> (Article 342 of the CC, 3 years in a penal colony).<\/p>\n
\nConditions of incarcerated cultural figures <\/a>
\nArbitrary detentions and arrests<\/a>
\nAdministrative persecution<\/a>
\nCriminal prosecution, trials and sentences<\/a>
\nGender dimension of violations<\/a>
\nPersecution of exiled figures<\/a>
\nDismissals, a ban on the profession and the practice of vouching<\/a>
\nPressure on organisations and communities in the cultural sphere<\/a>
\nCensorship and other violations of cultural rights<\/a>
\nState policy in the sphere of culture<\/a>
\nConclusion and recommendations<\/a><\/p>\nMAIN RESULTS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Persecutions in 2024: Figures and Trends<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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CONDITIONS OF INCARCERATED CULTURAL FIGURES <\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nARBITRARY DETENTIONS AND ARRESTS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
ADMINISTRATIVE PERSECUTION<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nCRIMINAL PROSECUTION, TRIALS AND SENTENCES<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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