{"id":6522,"date":"2021-04-13T08:59:56","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T08:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/?p=6522"},"modified":"2021-08-04T12:01:37","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T12:01:37","slug":"yany-adchuli-shto-kultura-geta-pershasny-vyklik-sczisly-aglyad-belaruskaj-kultury-za-minuly-tydzen-vypusk-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/2021\/04\/13\/yany-adchuli-shto-kultura-geta-pershasny-vyklik-sczisly-aglyad-belaruskaj-kultury-za-minuly-tydzen-vypusk-27.html","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThey\u2019ve realized culture is the biggest challenge.\u201d Review of the News of Belarusian Culture over the Week, Issue 27"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Stand with Belarusian Arts and Culture community. Donate to\u00a0Save Our Songs campaign<\/a>.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

\"\"An exhibition “The machine breathes, but I don’t”, dedicated to Belarusian medical workers, had to be closed, and the organizers of the exhibition were detained on April 5.<\/span>
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Ta\u0107ciana Hacura-Javorskaja [<\/b>Tatiana Gatsura-Yavorskaya], human rights defender, organizer of many cultural initiatives, including documentary film festivals and the exhibition “The machine breathes, but I don’t” is a suspect in a criminal case.<\/span><\/p>\n

The online documentary film festival <\/span>BelarusDocs<\/b>, scheduled for April 13-19, has been postponed by the organizers because of the mass detentions of activists.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Miko\u0142a Kananovi\u010d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Miko\u0142a Kananovi\u010d<\/b> [Mikola Kananovich], poet and editor-in-chief of Gazeta Slonimskaya, was summoned to the police on April 7. According to police, a publication containing repost from a telegram channel recognized by the authorities as extremist was found on the newspaper\u2019s website.<\/span><\/p>\n

U\u0142adzimir \u0141oba\u010d <\/b>[Uladzimir Lobach], Doctor of Historical Sciences, ethnographer, author of multiple books and publications, poet, was fired from Polack State University on April 7. He was one of the signatories of the statement in defense of the white-red-white flag.<\/span><\/p>\n

Raman Vasiukovi\u010d [<\/b>Raman Vasiukovich], journalist, was fined 20 basic units [183 EUR] for bringing a copy of the book “Belarusian Donbass” to Belarus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Taciana Niadbaj<\/b>, a poet, writer, and Vice-President of the Belarusian PEN Center, was asked to take back the copies of the book The Theories of 20th Century Literature which she had given for selling to the state-owned chain of stores Belkniha.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Dani\u0142a Han\u010daro\u016d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A new edition of <\/span>Alhierd Bacharevi\u010d<\/b>‘s book Sabaki Europy (The Dogs of Europe), published in Vilnius by the Belarusian publisher Janu\u0161kievi\u010d, was taken for expertise at crossing the Belarusian border.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lighting artist <\/span>Dani\u0142a Han\u010daro\u016d <\/b>[Danila Hancharou], fired from the New Drama Theater for the strike, is charged under part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code \u2013 “organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ale\u015b Bialacki<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ale\u015b Bialacki<\/b> [Ales Bialiatski], head of the human rights centre Viasna, PEN Belarus member, writer, was interrogated by the Investigative Committee on April 9 as a witness in the criminal case against Viasna under part 2 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code \u2013 Training of persons to take part in group actions that grossly violate public order\u201d. The interrogation was conducted in the Belarusian language, as Mr. Bialiatski demanded. He signed a non-disclosure document.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>exposition of the creative association “Pahonia”<\/b>, which spoke in support of Ale\u015b Pu\u0161kin, had to be removed two days before its official closing in the Palace of Arts in Minsk.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Symbols<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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Julia Mihai\u0142ava<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A resident of S\u0142onim<\/b> was sentenced to 7 days of administrative arrest for \u201cpicketing\u201d, and his car with a big \u201cPahonia\u201d sticker and a white-red-white flag on it was confiscated<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Julia Mihai\u0142ava<\/b> [Yulia Mikhailava] was detained on April 7 after being identified in a photo among a group of women walking around Minsk with white-red-white umbrellas. After inspecting their home, police detained Julia\u2019s mother Taciana and brother Piotr too. Julia was sentenced to 25 days of administrative arrest, her mother \u2013 to 5, and her brother \u2013 to 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

Citizens are tried for the red film (foil) on a window glass, the coat of arms on the wall of their own house, flags in the windows. Police also hang flags in the windows of the apartments they come in with searches, take a photo and punish for non-existing picketing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Belarusian artists<\/b>, members of the creative association “Pahonia”, spoke in support<\/a> of <\/span>Ale\u015b Pu\u0161kin <\/b>[Ales Pushkin], recognized as a political prisoner. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIs dissent an occasion to file a lawsuit against an artist? Has the fundamental humanitarian right \u2013 the right for freedom of expression \u2013 ceased to function in our country?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Cichan Kluka\u010d [Tsikhan Klukach], an 18-year-old political prisoner, makes such drawings<\/span>:<\/b><\/p>\n

\r\n \"\"\r\n \"\"\r\n \"\"\r\n <\/div>\r\n\n

Art of free people<\/b><\/p>\n

Lilia Kvatsabaya, Future <\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

karikatu.rama,\u00a0Alternative poster. We\u2019d like to see the heroes\u2019 faces\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Olga Yakubouskaya, Protector of law\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Vladimir Tsesler, <\/span>Holocaust Remembrance Day<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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drawing by Lena Krashevka<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

A selection of paintings<\/a> by the Belarusian artist Lena Krashevka\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maksim Znak<\/b> is not only a lawyer, he is also a poet and musician, and during his imprisonment (seven months for now) he\u2019s written more than a hundred works: ninety stories, dozens of poems and songs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Svetlana Alexievich<\/b> is writing<\/a> a book about the post-election events in Belarus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Voices of Belarusian Culture<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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Victar Marcinovi\u010d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Victar Marcinovi\u010d<\/b> [Martsinovich], writer: <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey\u2019ve realized culture is the biggest challenge. It was culture that gradually led to the new situation. That’s why there\u2019s a war against culture, like in case with the exhibition about medical workers\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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Natalla Ka\u010datkova<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Natalla Ka\u010datkova<\/b> [Natalia Kochetkova], actress, tells about having left the Yanka Kupala Theater:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have a wonderful collective! Now we meet and shoot in the cold until late at night, it’s rather challenging. But communication brings such joy, such mutual love!.. We feel great respect for each other. I think hadn\u2019t we quit all together, we probably would never realize how much we care for each other. We have all opened our best sides\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Kanstancin Ja\u015bko\u016d, photo by gazetaby<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Kanstancin Ja\u015bko\u016d<\/b> [Konstantin Yaskov], composer:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThere should be a lot of people like Viktar Babaryka, active, rich, daring and free, then everything will develop \u2013 the society as a whole and culture. Diversity requires absolute freedom\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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Iryna Dziamjanava<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Iryna Dziamjanava <\/b>[Irina Demyanova], professor and program director of the International Film Festival Listapad:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAs just a citizen, unrelated to cinema, I wonder how the testimonies of those, for example, who went through detentions and interrogations, will be preserved. Where does this experience remain, other than in people\u2019s memory? Because if there is nothing left, we will have nothing to show, the next trauma will not be processed as experience of the nation, so it will all happen again, no matter who will be in power\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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International Solidarity<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

A full-length <\/span>documentary<\/a> about contemporary Belarusian music<\/b> has been released on the Russian channel RBC. <\/span><\/p>\n