{"id":4265,"date":"2020-11-06T11:46:16","date_gmt":"2020-11-06T11:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/?p=4265"},"modified":"2024-02-23T12:03:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T12:03:42","slug":"belarus-as-the-crisis-in-belarus-continues-belarus-pen-calls-for-international-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/2020\/11\/06\/belarus-as-the-crisis-in-belarus-continues-belarus-pen-calls-for-international-support.html","title":{"rendered":"Belarus: As the crisis in Belarus continues, Belarus PEN calls for international support"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the current political crisis, Belarusian cultural figures have experienced unprecedented pressures for openly expressing their views against repression, violence and election fraud. The fact that most cultural institutions in Belarus are under government control makes the cultural sphere especially vulnerable to repression. <\/span><\/p>\n

An extreme example is the firing of all members of the famous Yanka Kupala National Theatre<\/strong>, which celebrated its centenary this year, after they spoke out against the use of torture by Belarusian police. Another example is the threat to end the contracts of employees of the Belarusian State Philharmonic<\/strong> because of their participation in the protests by simply walking along the streets of Minsk and singing in support of protesters. One more example concerns art historian, Mikita Moni\u010d [Nikita Monich]<\/strong>, who was fired from the National Art Museum after he had published his poem addressing and criticising Alexander Lukashenka. These are just a few examples of the numerous attacks against writers, artists, and cultural workers whose cases PEN Belarus is monitoring.<\/span><\/p>\n

PEN Belarus members and laureates of the Centre\u2019s awards have also been the target of the repressions:<\/strong><\/p>\n