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Persecution, Convictions, Cultural Policy<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Darja Pataturka<\/b>, director of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, of Belarus had her contract not extended. Darja wishes she had quit last year, but “that needed strength which wasn\u2019t there at the time.<\/em>“<\/span><\/p>\n Vadzim Jerma\u0161uk<\/b>, a well-known Belarusian blogger, was detained on August 17 in \u0160\u010du\u010dyn and sentenced to 25 days of administrative arrest. The essence of the accusation is that by inspecting the local skate playground (he wanted to help create a similar one in Hrodna), \u201che incited others to take part in an unauthorized sports event\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n U\u0142adzimir Mackievi\u010d<\/b>, a philosopher and methodologist, is facing charges under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization of actions that grossly violate public order).<\/span><\/p>\n Illa Mirona\u016d<\/b>, a well-known Homel-based volunteer, was sentenced to 25 days of administrative arrest for wearing a T-shirt saying \u201cWrite Letters\u201d, which was considered \u201cunauthorized picketing\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n A civil case has been instituted to <\/span>liquidate the Belarusian Writers Union<\/b>. Barys Piatrovi\u010d, head of the organization, says that they will try to defend themselves in court and prove their point.<\/span><\/p>\n The Supreme Court has opened a case on the <\/span>liquidation<\/b> o<\/span>f the International Public Association Ba\u0107ka\u016d\u0161\u010dyna<\/b>, which cooperates with the Belarusian diaspora from more than 20 countries for promoting Belarusian culture in Belarus and abroad by publishing numerous books on Belarusian culture and the history of Belarusians abroad, organising conferences, including World Congresses of Belarusians every five years.<\/span><\/p>\n The authorities want to <\/span>liquidate the Belarusian Language Society<\/b>, and as part of it \u2013 the newspapers Novy \u010cas and Na\u0161a S\u0142ova.<\/span><\/p>\n In Minsk, only 4,000 schoolchildren have <\/span>Belarusian as their language of instruction<\/b>, which is about 2% of the total number of schoolchildren in the Belarusian capital.<\/span><\/p>\n Life of the Imprisoned People<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Ihar Bancer<\/b> has been put in punitive confinement for another 10 days.<\/span><\/p>\n Andrej Alaksandra\u016d, a journalist, media manager, poet, and his partner <\/span>Iryna Z\u0142obina \u2013 both in the pre-trial detention center number 1 in Minsk since January 12, 2021 \u2013 are going to get married there.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Dissent and Cultural Activism <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1_dar_ya-paturaka-e1629717705154.jpg\")
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