Note<\/em>: <\/em>For reasons of information security, we do not provide direct links to information sources that are subject to restrictions under the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Main results<\/a> From January to September 2025, repression for dissent and the expression of opinion continued in Belarus, including arbitrary detentions and arrests, and politically motivated administrative and criminal prosecution of cultural figures both inside the country and abroad. Censorship and the cancellation of cultural events persisted, as well as the forced liquidation of public organisations. The lists of so-called \u201cextremists\u201d were further expanded with new names, initiatives, and materials. The list of printed publications allegedly \u201charming the national interests of the country\u201d was supplemented with new books.<\/p>\n Among the key developments of the third quarter were: the pardon and deportation<\/strong> to Lithuania on 11 September of 52 [1]<\/a> people, including 40 political prisoners \u2013 eleven of whom were representatives of the cultural sphere: U\u0142adzimir Mackievi\u010d, Pavie\u0142 Ma\u017eejka, Zmicier Da\u0161kievi\u010d, Miko\u0142a Dziadok, Pavie\u0142 Vinahrada\u016d, \u0141arysa \u0160\u010dyrakova, Ja\u016dhien Mierkis, Alaksandr Mancevi\u010d, Alaksiej Silenka, Hleb H\u0142adko\u016dski, and Siarhiej Spary\u0161. Other notable events include the continued complete isolation<\/strong> of political prisoner, lawyer, writer, and bard Maksim Znak for more than two and a half years; new criminal cases<\/strong> against music teachers for participating in the 2020 peaceful protests; detentions of organisers of cultural and entertainment events, including those loyal to the regime; and the cancellation of the premiere<\/strong> of the play Sisters Grimm<\/em> at the State Puppet Theatre in Minsk.<\/p>\n The sell-off of assets<\/strong> confiscated from imprisoned philanthropist and businessman Viktar Babaryka also continued, with 19 paintings from his private collection put up for auction. Cultural figures in exile faced persecution<\/strong> as well \u2013 notably, threats to the life of former Minister of Culture Pavie\u0142 \u0141atu\u0161ka.<\/p>\n The authorities designated the punk band Dzieciuki<\/em> and the jewellery brand Belaruskicry<\/em> as \u201cextremist formations\u201d<\/strong>. They labelled as \u201cextremist materials\u201d<\/strong> two books by Belarusian philosopher Valancin Akudovi\u010d and fantasy adventure stories for teenagers by Valery Hapieje\u016d, as well as the online library Kamunikat.org<\/em>. The list of printed publications whose distribution is deemed potentially harmful to the country\u2019s national interests <\/strong>was expanded with two books by Sa\u0161a Filipienka (Sasha Filipenko) and the poetry collection Here They Are, and Here We Are: Belarusian Poetry and Poems of Solidarity<\/em> \u2013 a compilation of contemporary Belarusian poems and texts written in solidarity with the protest movement of August 2020.<\/p>\n Among the key directions of state policy were the entry into force of Resolution No. 454 of the Council of Ministers \u201cOn the Register of Organisers of Cultural and Entertainment Events\u201d<\/strong>, further tightening state control and regulation in the field of culture and public initiatives; a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Information and the Belarusian Orthodox Church aimed at countering publications \u201ccoming from abroad\u201d; the establishment of a Parliamentary Assembly Commission on the preservation and protection of \u201ccorrect\u201d historical memory; and an agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of intellectual property, among other measures.<\/p>\n Repression in figures (January \u2013 September 2025):<\/strong><\/p>\n Between January and September 2025, at least 18 cultural figures were released under pardon, 15 of whom were forcibly deported from Belarus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n On 12 February, through the mediation of the US government, poet, translator, and journalist Andrej Kuznie\u010dyk <\/strong>was released from a penal colony and taken to Lithuania together with two other political prisoners.<\/p>\n On 21 June, philologist and Italianist Natalla Dulina<\/strong>, journalist and culture writer Ihar Karniej<\/strong>, and cultural manager and blogger Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski<\/strong> were among 14 political prisoners released and deported.<\/p>\n On 11 September, the following were pardoned and taken to Lithuania: philosopher U\u0142adzimir Mackievi\u010d<\/strong>, journalist and publisher Pavie\u0142 Ma\u017eejka<\/strong>, publicist Zmicier Da\u0161kievi\u010d<\/strong>, writer and blogger Miko\u0142a Dziadok<\/strong>, non-fiction author and blogger Pavie\u0142 Vinahrada\u016d<\/strong>, documentary filmmaker \u0141arysa \u0160\u010dyrakova<\/strong>, journalist and ethnographer Ja\u016dhien Mierkis<\/strong>, founder and editor of Rehijanalnaja Hazieta<\/em> Alaksandr Mancevi\u010d<\/strong>, architect and musician Alaksiej Silenka<\/strong>, videographer and musician Hleb H\u0142adko\u016dski<\/strong>, and activist and musician Siarhiej Spary\u0161<\/strong>. In total, 52 people were released, including 40 political prisoners.<\/p>\n Some cultural figures had only a few weeks or months remaining on their sentences. In an interview with independent media, Natalla Dulina<\/strong> said that \u201cbeing expelled from the country was the worst thing that could have happened\u201d, since she had only a few months left before she could decide freely whether to stay or leave Belarus.<\/p>\n The released political prisoners were not informed about their destination until they were brought to the Belarus\u2013Lithuania border, where they were handed over to US diplomats \u2013 effectively deported without official release documents. 13 people, including several cultural figures, were transferred to Lithuania without passports, the primary identity document. Human rights defenders are now analysing the legal implications of the Belarusian authorities\u2019 actions<\/strong> in depriving citizens of their passports. This has created serious obstacles to their legalisation abroad.<\/p>\n Philosopher U\u0142adzimir Mackievi\u010d said<\/a> that his manuscripts written in prison were confiscated<\/strong> before his deportation.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it became clear that they were taking us abroad, I experienced two excruciating moments: first, I was being forcibly removed from my own country. And second, that all my writings were taken from me. There were moments when inspiration struck, and I believe some of those notebooks contained the best philosophical reflections I have ever written. Sadly, they are all gone. That is my greatest pain<\/em>\u201d.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Miko\u0142a Dziadok, Ihar Karniej, and others also reported that their letters and manuscripts \u2013 weighing up to 20 kilograms in some cases \u2013 were confiscated upon their release.<\/p>\n Despite this wave of pardons, one cannot say that repression in Belarus, including against the cultural sector, has decreased. At least 30 new cultural figures were recognised as political prisoners<\/strong> during the same period<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Between January and September 2025, at least 40 arbitrary detentions and arrests of cultural figures<\/strong> were recorded (two people were detained twice). Events from the first half of the year, including the arrests of several administrators of the Belarusian-language Wikipedia<\/em> section, were detailed in the previous monitoring report<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the third quarter, additional information surfaced about several arrests that had taken place earlier in 2025 within the so-called \u201cHajun case\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 targeting individuals accused of sending information to the Belaruski Hajun<\/em> monitoring project\u2019s chatbot, which tracked the movement of Russian troops and military equipment across Belarus. In February, security forces gained access to the project\u2019s user data, triggering a wave of detentions of those suspected of transmitting information. Among those persecuted were historian and ethnographer Alaksiej Drupa\u016d<\/strong>, founder of the art village \u201c\u010cyrvony Kastry\u010dnik\u201d Kiry\u0142 Kra\u016dco\u016d<\/strong>, and local historian and archivist of the Kli\u010da\u016d Regional Museum Ja\u016dhien Staravojta\u016d<\/strong>. According to reports, within the same case, musician and cultural manager Anatol Volski<\/strong> and historian and tour guide Anton Arciuch<\/strong> were also detained. All five were charged under Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code<\/strong> (\u201cfacilitating extremist activity\u201d), with Staravojta\u016d, Volski, and Arciuch already convicted.<\/p>\n In September, former political prisoner, journalist, and local historian Alaksandr Lubian\u010duk<\/strong> was detained again. He had only been released from a penal colony in January 2025, after serving a three-year sentence on charges of \u201ccreating or participating in an extremist formation\u201d (Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code) for his cooperation with Belsat TV<\/em>. Lubian\u010duk was reportedly detained again under a new criminal case \u2013 likely also connected to the \u201cHajun case\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n During the third quarter of 2025, a series of arrests in the concert industry occurred following the designation of the Telegram chat \u201cOrg BY\u201d<\/strong> as an \u201cextremist formation\u201d (see also this section<\/a>). According to Na\u0161a Niva<\/em>, the chat was discovered on the phone of a concert organiser, after which security officers tracked down and detained other participants identified within Belarus. In some cases, additional charges were brought, including allegations of corruption. Reportedly detained were:<\/p>\n Among those mentioned were organisers of pro-government events<\/strong> and supporters of the \u0141uka\u0161enka regime<\/strong>. It remains to be seen whether more details will emerge about the detainees, the nature of their prosecution, and whether their persecution carries a political dimension.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Throughout the reporting period, criminal trials involving prominent cultural figures were held in Belarus every month. Whereas 24 people had been convicted in the first half of the year, by the end of September, this number had doubled to 49<\/strong>, including three convictions in absentia.<\/p>\n Among those sentenced were several music teachers: Vieranika Jano\u016dskaja<\/strong>, jazz singer and head of the \u201cArtVocal\u201d studio; Maryna Rapaviec<\/strong>, vocal teacher and head of the \u201cPretty Band\u201d ensemble; Lilija Pa\u017earyckaja and Alaksandr Pa\u017earycki<\/strong>, accordion teachers. All four are laureates of international and national festivals and recipients of numerous state awards, yet their names have been added to the list of \u201cextremists\u201d. They were sentenced to \u201chome confinement\u201d for participating in peaceful protests in 2020.<\/p>\n On 23 August, the Minsk City Court sentenced renowned artists and a married couple, Ihar Ryma\u0161e\u016dski<\/strong> and Ludmi\u0142a \u0160\u010damialova,<\/strong> to one year and two months in prison. They were released on 25 August upon completion of their sentence, having spent time in pre-trial detention since October 2024. Ryma\u0161e\u016dski was charged with \u201cinciting hatred\u201d (Article 130 of the Criminal Code) and \u201cthreatening a judge\u201d (Article 389 of the Criminal Code). \u0160\u010damialova was charged with \u201corganising actions that disrupt public order\u201d (Article 342 of the Criminal Code). Their arrest followed a search during which one of Ludmi\u0142a\u2019s paintings \u2013 found in another person\u2019s place \u2013 caught the attention of security officers. Both artists have long participated in national and international exhibitions, and their works are held in museums, galleries, and private collections in Belarus and abroad.<\/p>\n On 16 September 2025, the Minsk City Court concluded the trial of journalist and writer Ihar Ilja\u0161<\/strong>, which had begun on 21 February. He was sentenced to four years in a penal colony and fined approximately USD 1,380. Ilja\u0161 \u2013 the husband of imprisoned journalist and author Kaciaryna Andrejeva (Bachva\u0142ava) \u2013 was found guilty of \u201cdiscrediting the Republic of Belarus\u201d (Article 369-1) and \u201cfacilitating extremist activity\u201d (Article 361-4). The charges were based on his interviews and commentary for independent media outlets, including those in Ukraine. A trained philosopher, Ilja\u0161 is also the co-author of the documentary book Belarusian Donbas<\/em>.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n In almost every second case, cultural figures were sentenced to imprisonment in penal colonies \u2013 19 out of 46 individuals received such sentences.<\/p>\n Convicted individuals:<\/p>\n \u2013 Julija \u0141aptanovi\u010d<\/strong>, librarian \u2013 Article 361-4<\/em>, sentenced to 2.5 years in a penal colony [5]<\/sup><\/a>.
\nPardon and forced deportation of cultural figures from Belarus<\/a>
\nArbitrary detentions and criminal prosecution<\/a>
\nConditions of detention and violations of cultural rights in places of imprisonment<\/a>
\nDesignation of cultural initiatives, their social media, and products as \u201cextremist\u201d<\/a>
\nCensorship and other violations of cultural rights<\/a>
\nState policy in the sphere of culture: Resolution No. 454 \u201cOn the Register of Organisers of Cultural and Entertainment Events\u201d<\/a>
\nConclusion<\/a><\/p>\nMAIN RESULTS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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PARDON<\/strong> AND<\/strong> FORCED<\/strong> DEPORTATION<\/strong> OF <\/strong>CULTURAL<\/strong> FIGURES<\/strong> FROM<\/strong> BELARUS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
ARBITRARY DETENTIONS AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTION<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Trials<\/strong> and<\/strong> convicted<\/strong> cultural<\/strong> figures<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
Main articles <\/strong>[4]<\/a> of the Criminal Code used for prosecution (in-person trials):<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
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\n\u2013 Daniel-\u0141andsiej Kiejta<\/strong>, choir member \u2013 Article 342<\/em>, sentence not specified.
\n\u2013 Michai\u0142 \u0141aba\u0144<\/strong>, craftsman and owner of the jewellery workshop \u201cSamarodak\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Article 361-2<\/em>, 2.5 years of restricted freedom in an open-type facility [6]<\/sup><\/a>.
\n\u2013 Alena Badziaka<\/strong>, English teacher \u2013 Articles 130 and 361<\/em>, 2 years in a penal colony.
\n\u2013 Eduard Babaryka<\/strong>, cultural manager and businessman \u2013 Article 411<\/em>, penal colony.
\n\u2013 Kiry\u0142 Vieviel<\/strong>, musician and screenwriter \u2013 Articles 361-1 and 130<\/em>, 1.5 years in a penal colony.
\n\u2013 Nastassia Achramienka<\/strong>, photographer \u2013 Article 367<\/em>, home confinement.
\n\u2013 Alaksandr Franckievi\u010d<\/strong>, writer and anarchist \u2013 Article 411<\/em>, sentence unspecified.
\n\u2013 An\u017ealika Alasiuk<\/strong>, Belarusian language and literature teacher \u2013 Article 368<\/em>, sentence unspecified.
\n\u2013 Vieranika \u017da\u0142ubo\u016dskaja<\/strong>, actress, model, and flight attendant \u2013 Article 342<\/em>, 1 year in a penal colony.
\n\u2013 Palina Pitkievi\u010d<\/strong>, writer and journalist \u2013 Article 361-1<\/em>, 3 years in a penal colony.
\n\u2013 Viktar Kuchar\u010duk<\/strong>, historian and teacher \u2013 Article 130<\/em>, home confinement.<\/em>
\n\u2013 Nakanisi Masatosi,<\/strong> Japanese language lecturer \u2013 Article 358-1<\/em>, 7 years in a penal colony.
\n\u2013 Alena Pankratava<\/strong>, writer and journalist \u2013 Article 342<\/em>, home confinement.<\/em>
\n\u2013 Andrej Niesciarovi\u010d<\/strong>, owner of the \u201cCudo\u016dnia\u201d<\/em> ethnoshop \u2013 Article 342<\/em>, 1.5 years of restricted freedom in an open-type facility.
\n\u2013 Nina Bahinskaja<\/strong>, activist and cultural promoter \u2013 Article 342-2<\/em>, preventive supervision.
\n\u2013 Ja\u016dhien Bojka<\/strong>, cultural activist \u2013 Articles 361-1 and 361-3<\/em>, 5 years in a penal colony.
\n\u2013 Vadzim Pa\u017eyvi\u0142ka<\/strong>, former director of publishing houses for children\u2019s and popular science literature \u2013 Article 361-2<\/em>, home confinement.
\n\u2013 Alena Brazinskaja<\/strong>, English teacher \u2013 Article 342<\/em>, home confinement.
\n\u2013 Siarhiej Sa\u0142a\u017eenca\u016d<\/strong>, IT specialist and dance contest winner \u2013 Article 361-2<\/em>, penal colony.
\n\u2013 Alaksandra A\u0161urka<\/strong>, founder of Devil Dance Studio<\/em> \u2013