{"id":19962,"date":"2025-07-29T08:59:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T08:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/?p=19962"},"modified":"2026-02-06T10:41:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T10:41:32","slug":"bel-manitoryng-parushennyau-kulturnyh-pravou-i-pravou-chalaveka-u-dachynenni-da-dzeyachau-kultury-belarus-studzen-cherven-2025-goda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/2025\/07\/29\/bel-manitoryng-parushennyau-kulturnyh-pravou-i-pravou-chalaveka-u-dachynenni-da-dzeyachau-kultury-belarus-studzen-cherven-2025-goda.html","title":{"rendered":"Monitoring of violations of cultural rights and human rights of cultural figures. Belarus, January \u2013 June 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

This report is based on aggregated information collected by the PEN Belarus monitoring group during the first half of 2025 from open sources, personal contacts, and direct communication with cultural figures. If you wish to report violations (including confidentially) or correct inaccuracies, please contact us at dapamoha@penbelarus.org, <\/span>t.me\/viadoma<\/span><\/a>. The more accurately we can record and analyse the human rights situation in the cultural sphere, the more effectively we can plan our work to support cultural figures and culture-related projects. <\/span>More information about the monitoring is available <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

NB: To protect users’ information security, we do not provide direct links to information sources if restrictions have been imposed on them per the regulations currently in force in the Republic of Belarus.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Main results<\/span><\/a>
\n<\/span>Conditions of incarceration: incommunicado and deterioration of health<\/span><\/a>
\nArbitrary detentions<\/span><\/a>
\nCriminal prosecution<\/span><\/a>
\nCulture-related materials labelled as “extremist”<\/span><\/a>
\n<\/span>“Harmful literature”<\/span><\/a>
\n<\/span>Historical heritage and destruction of memorial sites<\/span><\/a>
\nState policy in the field of culture<\/span><\/a>
\nConclusion<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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MAIN RESULTS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the first half of 2025, Belarus continued to witness the persecution of individuals for dissent and the expression of opinion. Arbitrary detentions and arrests persisted, alongside politically motivated administrative and criminal prosecutions targeting cultural figures both within the country and in exile. Several new works of fiction and non-fiction were also designated as “extremist materials”.<\/p>\n

Several significant developments marked the second quarter of the year. Among them was the continued imprisonment of political prisoner, lawyer, writer, and bard Maksim Znak, who has been held incommunicado for two and a half years. Notably, a U.S.-mediated agreement led to the pardon and subsequent deportation from Belarus of 14 prisoners, including three cultural figures: Natalla Dulina, Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski, and Ihar Karniej.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, authorities intensified their crackdown on the Belarusian-language section of Wikipedia, detaining and persecuting several of its administrators. Civil activist Nina Bahinskaja, renowned for her role in preserving Belarusian national memory and recognised as a symbol of the 2020 protests, faced criminal prosecution and trial.<\/p>\n

In the realm of media and cultural suppression, the Belarusian Ministry of Information designated the Instagram page of Skaryna Press \u2013 a London-based Belarusian book publisher and online retailer \u2013 as “extremist material”. The Ministry also expanded its list of banned literature, adding 75 more titles deemed harmful to the nation’s interests.<\/p>\n

Symbolic acts of erasure continued with the removal of the bust of Tadevu\u0161 Kasciu\u0161ka (Tadeusz Ko\u015bciuszko) \u2013 a national hero in Belarus, Poland, and the United States \u2013 from his ancestral estate in the village of Ma\u0142yja Siachnovi\u010dy in Brest region. Additionally, century-old buildings were demolished to make way for the upcoming “Da\u017eynki \u2013 2025”, the country’s annual rural workers’ festival.<\/p>\n

One of the key directions in state policy is the continued strengthening of ideological control \u2013 this includes the approval of the “Fundamentals of the Ideology of the Belarusian State” (as outlined in Directive No. 12), a strong emphasis on patriotic education, and preparations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, with over 150 commemorative events planned<\/a>. Additionally, new cultural cooperation agreements have been signed between institutions in Belarus and Russia, and there is ongoing support and promotion of artists loyal to the government, among other initiatives.<\/p>\n

Persecution in January \u2013 June 2025 in numbers:<\/strong><\/p>\n