{"id":24168,"date":"2026-10-17T09:07:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T09:07:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/?p=24168"},"modified":"2026-10-21T19:03:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T19:03:13","slug":"hronika-parushennyau-pravou-chalaveka-u-sfery-kultury-1-15-kastrychnika-2026-goda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/2026\/10\/17\/hronika-parushennyau-pravou-chalaveka-u-sfery-kultury-1-15-kastrychnika-2026-goda.html","title":{"rendered":"Chronicle of human rights violations in the sphere of culture (1-15 October 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

To report a violation (including confidentially) or to correct data presented in the report, please contact us at\u00a0dapamoha@penbelarus.org\u00a0or t.me\/viadoma.<\/em><\/p>\n

As of 15 October 2026, at least 115 cultural figures, including at least 19 writers, were either imprisoned or under home confinement. The number of banned books increased to 390.<\/b><\/p>\n

The trial of Catholic priest and local historian <\/span>Anatol Parachnievi\u010d<\/b> began behind closed doors in a politically motivated criminal case.<\/span><\/p>\n

Special judicial proceedings were initiated against poet, performer and historical costume reconstruction specialist <\/span>Kaciaryna Vadanosava<\/b> in a politically motivated criminal case.<\/span><\/p>\n

It has emerged that imprisoned local historian <\/span>U\u0142adzimir Hundar<\/b>, from Baranavi\u010dy, is suffering from hearing problems, high blood pressure and back pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Imprisoned poet <\/span>Valery Pazniakievi\u010d<\/b> was admitted to the Mahilo\u016d Regional Cardiology Centre because of a heart condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Imprisoned cultural scholar <\/span>Vac\u0142a\u016d Are\u0161ka<\/b> has completely lost his sight in a penal colony.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thirteen books were added to the list of printed publications which, according to the authorities, \u2018may harm the national interests of the Republic of Belarus\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Independent publishers <\/span>Ihar \u0141ohvina\u016d, Andrej Janu\u0161kievi\u010d<\/b> and <\/span>Jaros\u0142aw Iwaniuk<\/b> were added to wanted persons database.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Facebook page of Belarusian culture promoter <\/span>Maryja Hryc<\/b> was designated as \u201cextremist materials\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The human rights Facebook page <\/span>\u2018Death Penalty in Belarus\u2019<\/b> was added to the National List of Extremist Materials.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Instagram page <\/span>CHATKA \u2013 Belarusian Cultural Society. Gda\u0144sk<\/b> was designated as \u201cextremist materials\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
I. Criminal prosecution of cultural figures, authors, and performers<\/b><\/h5>\n

<\/b>1.<\/strong> On 6 October, it emerged that the trial of Catholic priest and local historian <\/span>Anatol Parachnievi\u010d<\/b> had begun behind closed doors in Minsk in a politically motivated criminal case. He was detained on 16 March 2026 and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention centre. While in detention, he suffered a heart attack.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the absence of official information, members of the Catholic community have suggested that Anatol Parachnievi\u010d may have been arrested for commemorating Poles who died in Belarus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anatol Parachnievi\u010d studied Belarusian history and culture and established a museum at the Catholic church in the village of Alkovi\u010dy (Vilejka District, Minsk Region). The museum housed 18th-century liturgical vestments decorated with Sluck sashes, as well as early printed books.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>2.<\/strong> On 13 October, special judicial proceedings were initiated in a politically motivated criminal case against <\/span>Kaciaryna Vadanosava<\/b>, a poet, performer, historical costume reconstruction specialist and recipient of the 2024 Franci\u0161ak Bahu\u0161evi\u010d Prize. The proceedings concern Part 3 of Article 130-1 and Part 1 of Article 130-2 of the Criminal Code.<\/span><\/p>\n

In March 2025, the Prosecutor General\u2019s Office opened a criminal case against Kaciaryna Vadanosava over her \u2018original interpretation of historical events of the Second World War on YouTube\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

The case was brought under Part 3 of Article 130-1 of the Criminal Code (\u2018Rehabilitation of Nazism\u2019) in connection with educational video lectures on the YouTube channel \u2018Bud\u017ama bie\u0142arusami!\u2019 (\u2018Let\u2019s Be Belarusians!\u2019).<\/span><\/p>\n

The grounds for the criminal prosecution were a video lecture entitled \u2018The Main Myth of the Second World War: The Assassination of Gauleiter Wilhelm Kube. What Is Wrong with This Account?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Kaciaryna Vadanosava is currently outside Belarus.<\/span><\/p>\n

II. Deteriorating health of imprisoned cultural figures<\/b><\/h5>\n

<\/b>1.<\/strong> On 6 October, it emerged that imprisoned local historian <\/span>U\u0142adzimir Hundar<\/b>, from Baranavi\u010dy, was suffering from hearing problems, high blood pressure and back pain. He has a Group II disability and has had one leg amputated.<\/span><\/p>\n

U\u0142adzimir Hundar is serving a sentence of 20 years\u2019 imprisonment.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>2.<\/strong> On 7 October, imprisoned poet <\/span>Valery Pazniakievi\u010d<\/b> was transferred from the residential facility for convicts at an open-type correctional facility to the Mahilo\u016d Regional Cardiology Centre because of a heart condition and fluctuations in blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 14 August 2025, the Minsk District Court sentenced Valery Pazniakievi\u010d under Part 2 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code (\u2018Insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus\u2019) to three years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>3.<\/strong> On 8 October, it emerged that imprisoned cultural scholar <\/span>Vac\u0142a\u016d Are\u0161ka<\/b> had completely lost his sight in the penal colony. A relative reported: \u201cPreviously, he could still distinguish light and shadow. Now even that is gone.\u201d The administration of Penal Colony No. 22, where Are\u0161ka is being held, offered to transfer him to a hospital under prisoner escort, but he refused. \u201cAs far as I know, he is afraid of going to hospital because he may not survive the transfer,\u201d the relative said.<\/span><\/p>\n

III. Banned books<\/b><\/h5>\n

On 7 October, 13 books were added to the list of printed publications which, according to the authorities, \u2018may harm the national interests of the Republic of Belarus\u2019 and are therefore prohibited from being sold, given away, advertised or distributed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the banned books is the psychological thriller <\/span>The Room<\/b> (1971) by American writer <\/span>Hubert Selby Jr<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

IV. Repression against independent publishers\u00a0<\/b><\/h5>\n

1<\/b>.<\/b> On 7 October, it emerged that publisher <\/span>Ihar \u0141ohvina\u016d<\/b> had been added to Russia\u2019s wanted persons database.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 3 March 2026, the KGB designated a purported coalition of publishing houses \u2013\u2018Kamunikat.org Foundation\u2019, \u2018Lohvinau Publishing House\u2019 and \u2018Andrei Yanushkevich Publishing\u2019 \u2013 as an \u2018extremist formation\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

No such coalition exists; it is a fictitious association fabricated by the security services.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>2.<\/strong> On 7 October, it emerged that historian and publisher <\/span>Andrej Janu\u0161kievi\u010d<\/b>, founder of the Janu\u0161kievi\u010d publishing house (\u2018Andrei Yanushkevich Publishing\u2019), had been added to Russia\u2019s wanted persons database.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 3 March 2026, the KGB designated a purported coalition of publishing houses \u2013\u2018Kamunikat.org Foundation\u2019, \u2018Lohvinau Publishing House\u2019 and \u2018Andrei Yanushkevich Publishing\u2019 \u2013 as an \u2018extremist formation\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

No such coalition exists; it is a fictitious association fabricated by the security services.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>3.<\/strong> On 8 October, it emerged that publisher <\/span>Jaros\u0142aw Iwaniuk<\/b>, founder of the Kamunikat online library and the Kamunikat.org Foundation publishing house, had been added to Russia\u2019s wanted persons database.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jaros\u0142aw Iwaniuk is an ethnic Belarusian from Bielsk Podlaski and a Polish citizen.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 3 March 2026, the KGB designated a purported coalition of publishing houses \u2013\u2018Kamunikat.org Foundation\u2019, \u2018Lohvinau Publishing House\u2019 and \u2018Andrei Yanushkevich Publishing\u2019 \u2013 as an \u2018extremist formation\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

No such coalition exists; it is a fictitious association fabricated by the security services.<\/span><\/p>\n

V. Designation of social media accounts belonging to authors and cultural figures as \u201cextremist materials\u201d<\/b><\/h5>\n

<\/b>1. On 1 October, it emerged that the YouTube account \u2018Tihanovski_stihi\u2019 had been designated as \u2018extremist materials\u2019 by the A\u0161miany District Court\u2019s ruling dated 25 September.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the creative channel <\/span>\u2018A Pharmacy, a Street, a Streetlamp\u2019<\/b> belonging to <\/span>Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski<\/b>, where poems and songs he wrote while imprisoned are published.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the poems were written in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 3 in Homiel and Prison No. 8 in \u017dodzina.<\/span><\/p>\n

The channel also has pages on TikTok and Facebook.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>2.<\/strong> On 1 October, the Facebook page \u2018Maria Grits\u2019, belonging to Belarusian culture promoter <\/span>Maryja Hryc<\/b>, was designated as \u2018extremist materials\u2019 by a decision of the Po\u0142ack District and City Court.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>3.<\/strong> On 12 October, the Instagram page \u2018siarheihun\u2019, belonging to Belarusian culture promoter and former political prisoner <\/span>Siarhiej Hu\u0144<\/b>, was designated as \u2018extremist materials\u2019 by a decision of the Kira\u016dsk District Court in the Mahilo\u016d Region.<\/span><\/p>\n

VI. Designation of social media pages of cultural and human rights initiatives as \u201cextremist materials\u201d\u00a0<\/b><\/h5>\n

<\/b>1.<\/strong> On 9 October, the Instagram page \u2018<\/span>CHATKA \u2013 Belarusian Cultural Society. Gda\u0144sk\u2019<\/b> was designated as \u2018extremist materials\u2019 by a decision of the U\u0161a\u010dy District Court in the Viciebsk Region.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>2.<\/strong> On 9 October, the Instagram page \u2018<\/span>STUDIO OF NATIONAL BELARUSIAN TATTOOING Warsaw\u2019<\/b> was designated as \u2018extremist materials\u2019 by a decision of the U\u0161a\u010dy District Court in the Viciebsk Region.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>3.<\/strong> On 12 October, the Facebook page <\/span>\u2018Death Penalty in Belarus\u2019<\/b> was added to the National List of Extremist Materials. The human rights campaign against the death penalty actively uses non-fiction literature, documentary filmmaking and visual art in its work.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>4.<\/strong> The Instagram page \u2018<\/span>chor_poznanski_spiewuny_schod\u2019<\/b>, belonging to a Belarusian choir in Pozna\u0144, was designated as \u201cextremist materials\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>5.<\/strong> The Instagram page \u2018<\/span>Sufliadka\u2019<\/b>, belonging to a Belarusian clothing brand, was added to the National List of Extremist Materials.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Disclaimer: Belarusian personal names and proper names<\/h2>\n

Personal names<\/b><\/h5>\n

Personal names and surnames in this text are rendered using the traditional <\/span>Belarusian Latin alphabet <\/b>\u0141acinka<\/span><\/a>. We also provide their equivalents according to the current <\/span>Instruction on the Transliteration of Surnames and Given Names of Citizens of the Republic of Belarus<\/span><\/a>. Where direct access to official identity documents is unavailable, the transliterated forms of names may differ from the spellings used in official passport records.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Belarusian \u0141acinka<\/b><\/td>\nOfficial transliteration (since 23.10.2008)<\/b><\/td>\nOther known spellings<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Anatol Parachnievi\u010d\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nAnatol Parakhnievich<\/span><\/td>\nAnatol Parakhnevich<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Andrej Janu\u0161kievi\u010d<\/span><\/td>\nAndrej Janushkie<\/span>vich<\/span><\/td>\nAndrei Yanushkevich<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ihar \u0141ohvina\u016d\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nIgar Logvinaw<\/span><\/td>\nLohvinau<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kaciaryna Vadanosava<\/span><\/td>\nKatsiaryna Vadanosava<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maryja Hryc<\/span><\/td>\nMaryja Gryts<\/span><\/td>\nMaria Grits<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Siarhiej Cichano\u016dski<\/span><\/td>\nSiargiej Tsikhanowski<\/span><\/td>\nSiarhei Tsikhanouski \/ Sergei Tikhanovsky \/ Tihanovski<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Siarhiej Hu\u0144<\/span><\/td>\nSiargiej Gun<\/span><\/td>\nSiarhei Hun<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
U\u0142adzimir Hundar\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nUladzimir Gundar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vac\u0142a\u016d Are\u0161ka\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nViachaslaw Areshka<\/span><\/td>\nVatslau Areshka \/ Viachaslau Areshka<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Valery Pazniakievi\u010d<\/span><\/td>\nValery Pazniakievich<\/span><\/td>\nValery Pazniakevich<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Toponyms<\/b><\/h5>\n

Geographical names in this text are rendered using the traditional <\/span>Belarusian Latin alphabet <\/b>\u0141acinka<\/span><\/a>. We also provide their equivalents according to the current <\/span>Instruction on Rendering the Names of Geographical Features from Belarusian and Russian into Other Languages and on Transliteration of the Names of Geographical Features into the Latin Alphabet<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Belarusian \u0141acinka<\/b><\/td>\nOfficial transliteration (since 23.10.2008)<\/b><\/td>\nOther known spellings<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alkovi\u010dy\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nAlkovichy<\/span><\/td>\nA\u013akovi\u010dy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A\u0161miany\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nAshmiany<\/span><\/td>\nAshmyany<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Baranavi\u010dy<\/span><\/td>\nBaranavichy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Homiel\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nGomiel<\/span><\/td>\nGomel<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kira\u016dsk\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nKirawsk<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mahilo\u016d<\/span><\/td>\nMagiliow<\/span><\/td>\nMahilo\u016d \/ Mahiliou \/ Mahilyow<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Po\u0142ack\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPolack<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sluck\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSluck<\/span><\/td>\nSlutsk<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
U\u0161a\u010dy<\/span><\/td>\nUshachy<\/span><\/td>\nVu\u0161a\u010dy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Viciebsk<\/span><\/td>\nViciebsk<\/span><\/td>\nVitebsk \/ Vitsyebsk \/ Vicebsk\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vilejka\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nVilejka<\/span><\/td>\nVialejka<\/span> \/ Vileyka<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u017dodzina<\/span><\/td>\nZhodzina<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Proper names of organisations, projects, etc.\u00a0<\/b><\/h5>\n

The names of Belarusian organisations, projects and similar entities in this text are rendered using the traditional <\/span>Belarusian Latin alphabet <\/b>\u0141acinka<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Belarusian \u0141acinka<\/b><\/td>\nOfficial transliteration<\/b><\/td>\nOther known spellings<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bud\u017ama bie\u0142arusami! (channel)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\nBudzma \/ Let\u2019s Be Belarusians!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To report a violation (including confidentially) or to correct data presented in the report, please contact us at\u00a0dapamoha@penbelarus.org\u00a0or t.me\/viadoma. As of 15 October 2026, at least 115 cultural figures, including at least 19 writers, were either imprisoned or under home confinement. The number of banned books increased to 390. The trial of Catholic priest and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":117,"featured_media":24177,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4255],"tags":[4291,4285],"class_list":["post-24168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultural-right","tag-chronicle","tag-hronika"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/117"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24168"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24179,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24168\/revisions\/24179"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}