{"id":5040,"date":"2021-01-19T13:24:48","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T13:24:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/?p=5040"},"modified":"2021-08-04T12:05:02","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T12:05:02","slug":"pakincze-mne-prava-zastaczcza-saboj-vypusk-15-shto-adbyvaeczcza-u-belaruskaj-kultury-padchas-gramadska-palitychnaga-kryzisu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/2021\/01\/19\/pakincze-mne-prava-zastaczcza-saboj-vypusk-15-shto-adbyvaeczcza-u-belaruskaj-kultury-padchas-gramadska-palitychnaga-kryzisu.html","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019ll Keep the Right to Remain Myself \u2013 Issue 15: What is Happening in Belarusian Culture during the Social and Political Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arrests, Convictions, Prosecution<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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Alena Litvinava, photo by Radio Svaboda<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Alena Litvinava, <\/b>a teacher from Homel, was sentenced to three days of administrative arrest<\/a> for a dance around a Christmas tree in the forest involving white-red-white flags and symbols. Prior to the trial, she had spent five days in a temporary detention center instead of 72 hours allowed by law.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Four <\/span>Salihorsk residents<\/b> received administrative arrest terms and fines<\/a> for having gathered near the <\/span>Mourning Bell<\/span><\/i> monument on November 13 to honor the memory of Raman Bandarenka, who died in Minsk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Andrej Alaksandra\u016d, photo by BAJ <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Andrej Alaksandra\u016d<\/b>, journalist, media manager and poet, was detained on January 12 on the charges for financing the protest<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Adel Rudnickaja<\/b>, a singer<\/a>, was detained while walking with a white-red-white umbrella, and sentenced to 8 days of administrative arrest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Anatol \u0141azar<\/b>, a cult designer known as Wiecier Mechaniczny, author of the design of the Micha\u0142 Aniempadysta\u016d and Natalla Arsie\u0144nieva Prizes of the Belarusian PEN Center, was taken to the financial police together with his computer. He was later released under the pledge of secrecy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hienad\u017a Viniarski<\/b>, publisher of \u201cKnihazbor\u201d, on January 13 was taken by the Department for Combating Economic Crimes officers as if to check if he pays all the taxes. <\/span>Hienad\u017a <\/b>was released the same day under the pledge of secrecy, but his computer and phone were not returned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Andrej Janu\u0161kievi\u010d<\/b>, publisher, and <\/span>Ale\u015b Ja\u016ddacha<\/b>, bookseller, were taken to the Financial Investigation Department for the interrogation on January 15. Their computer and laptops, as well as phones and some other equipment and books, were taken away as well. Both were later released under the pledge of secrecy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Volha Kalackaja, photo by Minsk repetitors info<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Volha Kalackaja, <\/b>a well-known translator, was detained on January 15. On January 18, she was charged under Part 1 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code (Hooliganism).<\/span><\/p>\n

PEN America<\/b> alongside acclaimed writer Margaret Atwood demands<\/a> the immediate release of Volha. Kalackaja has translated Atwood’s work, as well as that of Virginia Woolf and Tennessee Williams.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Zmicier Da\u0161kievi\u010d<\/b>, a public and political activist, former political prisoner, laureate of 2014\u00a0 Franci\u0161ak Aliachnovi\u010d Award by PEN Belarus for his book \u201cThe Worm\u201d written in prison, was detained near Kurapaty<\/a> on January 15 and on January 18 he was sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pressure, Dismissal, Ban<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

A policeman from Miadzie\u0142 <\/span>Alaksandr Ku\u010dynski<\/b> was fired for a poem he published late in August in his public for six people.<\/span><\/p>\n

“There is no truth in the hitting with truncheons, people in uniforms will not withstand.<\/em>“<\/span><\/p>\n

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Repressions for the Symbols<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

On March 1, the new Code of Administrative Offenses and the Procedural and Executive Code of Administrative Offenses is to come into force; they involve fines for “a flag on the balcony”<\/b> (20 basic units – up to \u20ac180 for individuals and up to \u20ac561 for legal entities).<\/span><\/p>\n

Unknown people in masks broke the window of an apartment in Minsk for white-red-white paper snowflakes in the window. Police refused<\/a> to open a case and look for the culprits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Valer Astrynski<\/b>, an investor and business angel, was fined 20 basic units [\u20ac180] for a flag with <\/span>Pahonia<\/span><\/i> on the well of his own country house. <\/span>Siarhiej Miljaniec<\/b>, a father of seven, was tried for the blinds in his window in Minsk district.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cultural Resistance<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>short feature film<\/a> “Minsk 2020”<\/b> appeared as a response to the events on the <\/span>Square of Change<\/b> in Minsk on November 15, 2020 and is dedicated to the memory of <\/span>Raman Bandarenka<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n