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Persecution, Convictions, Censorship, Cultural Policy<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Media reports on <\/span>purges in cultural institutions all over Belarus<\/b>: more than 150 fired from the Belarusian State Philharmonic, Historical Museum, National Library, National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, Academy of Arts, State Museum of the History of Belarusian Literature, The Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre, Hrodna Regional Puppet Theater and other organizations. There is information about the existence of lists for mass dismissals, which are kept secret. People are fired under various dates and for different formal reasons, in order to hide the purge.<\/span><\/p>\n U\u0142adzimir Bu\u0142a\u016dski<\/b>, a well-known activist and organizer of cultural events in Viciebsk, detained on November 26, got 7 days in prison. He was released on December 1.<\/span><\/p>\n The adventure film <\/span>Adventures of Pranci\u0161 Vyrvi\u010d<\/i><\/b> based on the work of Ludmi\u0142a Ruble\u016dskaja has disappeared from cinemas in Belarus. The film stars several <\/span>Kupa\u0142a\u016dcy <\/i><\/b>troupe actors who left the theater in protest in 2020 .<\/span><\/p>\n Iryna Silvanovi\u010d<\/b>, head of the exhibition hall in Hrodna, who supported the protests in 2020, was fired.<\/span><\/p>\n Fiodar \u010caranko\u016d<\/b>, vocalist of the <\/span>Nia Varta<\/span><\/i> band, was fired from the Mazyr Oil Refinery after 8 years of work. The musician was sentenced to 5 days for following an \u201cextremist\u201d media resource, contracted coronavirus in jail, and was hospitalized after his release. Upon his recovery, <\/span>Fiodar <\/b>came to work, but he was told that he had been fired because of the administrative arrest.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/b>Yellow Stars<\/i><\/b> concert<\/b> in memory of the Holocaust victims, scheduled for January 20 and 22 at the Belarusian State Philharmonic, <\/span>was <\/b>canceled<\/b><\/a> after a delation of the \u201cindifferent\u201d citizen. Someone named Ivan Nikifara\u016d wrote that \u201cThe so-called \u201cprojects\u201d are presented as charity events, but in fact the funds go to support opposition organizations (for example, the Hrodna Hospice), moreover, they employ artists who take part in opposition rallies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Pavie\u0142 Bie\u0142avus<\/b>, the founder of the <\/span>Art Siadziba<\/span><\/i> cultural platform and a souvenir shop\u00a0<\/span>Symbal.by<\/span><\/i>, was not released after 15 days of arrest, his release due on December 3 at 3:40 p.m. <\/span>Pavie\u0142<\/b>‘s relatives have no information why he is still being held captive.<\/span><\/p>\n Life of the Imprisoned People<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Alaksiej Mina\u016d<\/b>, a political prisoner, writer and teacher of the Belarusian language and literature, wrote a poem when he saw <\/span>Volha Za\u0142atar<\/b>, a political prisoner, activist and a mother of many children, in the corridors [presumably, at court], who vigorously and cheerfully wished a good morning to everyone in Belarusian and smiled. The poem has the lines \u201cRemember, it will pass very quickly, and know, someone is breathing in your laughter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Miko\u0142a Papieka<\/b>, a poet, politically imprisoned under the \u201ckarahod\u201d case, sent a new poem from behind bars and told that he works in a nursery, misses his friends and his beehive.<\/span><\/p>\n Dissent and Cultural Activism<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n A meeting with <\/span>Andrej Janu\u0161kievi\u010d<\/b>, head of the <\/span>Janu\u0161kievi\u010d <\/span><\/i>publishing house, about the specifics of the book publishing house work in Belarus and modern Belarusian literature took place on November 22 in the <\/span>Vier\u0161y <\/span><\/i>space in Minsk.<\/span><\/p>\n Pava\u0142 Ma\u017ear<\/b>‘s <\/span>The Handbook<\/span><\/i><\/a> film about tortures during the Belarusian protests was recognized as the best short film at the world’s most authoritative IDFA documentary film forum in Amsterdam.<\/span><\/p>\n The Belarusian Council for Culture has launched a <\/span>charity Christmas auction<\/span><\/a>, where you can buy a new painting with cats by <\/span>Volha Jakubo\u016dskaja<\/b> dedicated to all Belarusians.<\/span><\/p>\n Lavon Volski<\/b>, a legendary Belarusian musician, will give a tour in Poland.<\/span><\/p>\n Alaksiej Pa\u0142ujan<\/b>‘s film <\/span>Courage <\/span><\/i>about last year’s protests in Belarus qualified for the Academy Awards in the category of best feature-length documentaries.<\/span><\/p>\n Kupa\u0142a\u016dcy<\/i><\/b>, a troupe of the Janka Kupa\u0142a National Theater, that resigned in 2020 after the rigged elections, <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> the premiere of their first play of the second season – <\/span>Notes of a Red Army Officer<\/span><\/i> directed by <\/span>Mika\u0142aj Pinihin<\/b> based on the novel of the same name by <\/span>Siarhiej Piasiecki<\/b>. The first show took place on December 4, 2021 in Krakow, Poland, as part of the <\/span>Boska Komedia <\/span><\/i>festival.<\/span><\/p>\n An online exhibition <\/span>MADE IN BELARUS \/ MADE OF PAIN<\/i><\/b><\/a> about Belarus in the post-election period of 2020 has been launched. The author of the project is <\/span>Alaksandr Su\u0161\u010de\u016dski<\/b>, photographer and director.<\/span><\/p>\n Voices of Belarusian Culture<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Andrej Kuci\u0142a<\/b>, Belarusian documentary filmmaker, the author of the film <\/span>When Flowers Are Not Silent<\/span><\/i> about the heroines of the Belarusian protests, which became the best documentary at the Warsaw Film Festival, shared in an interview,<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have never cried so much over my own material as over the videos from the protests. I have no particular disappointment today, since I had no illusions. On the contrary, I am inspired: we have no right to say so, because there are victims, but in terms of determining who we are and where we are heading, the situation is better than if we lived like this for twenty years more. And it is much better than it was.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Alina Ko\u016d\u0161yk<\/b>, one of the founders of the Center for Belarusian Solidarity in Warsaw,<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt is important for everything to be there, to be alive, for the Belarusian life to flourish! The Belarusian wave has become visible, and it’s great. I notice that we, Belarusians, here in Warsaw, have united, started feeling a part of the whole and for most of the people our culture has become interesting. A Belarusian event is not necessarily a rally with white-red-white flags, it can be an exhibition, a concert, a courtyard party or a mundane meeting over a cup of coffee. Belarusianness is manifested in everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n D\u017amitryj \u0160ymanski<\/b>, a bagpiper from the <\/span>Javaryna <\/span><\/i>band, who was sentenced to three years of open air prison for playing bagpipe on the protest rally on August 16, 2020, but managed to flee,<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhile in jail, I was able to make a wind instrument: there were such narrow cylindrical jars from vitamins and I collected six of them, connected them, cut holes and made an improvised kaval [shepherd’s flute, an instrument common in Asia and Southeastern Europe]. It\u2019s a violation [of prison order], but I would quietly play it sometimes.<\/span><\/p>\n I will return to Belarus 100%. The belief in changes has not disappeared – they will happen, perhaps, not that quickly. But they will.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In jail, <\/span>Ale\u015b Bialacki<\/b>, a member of PEN Belarus, human rights activist and political prisoner, writes memoirs of his time as the head of the Maksim Bahdanovi\u010d Literary Museum in 1989-1998,<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOne can go on and on about Maksim Bahdanovi\u010d’s love lyrics, there would be enough for a tour. I memorized these poems, created under the influence of feelings for Anna Kakujeva, at the age of 17, when I discovered Bahdanovi\u010d’s poetry. Later I read them during excursions in the fourth hall of the museum called <\/span>Women in the Life of Maksim Bahdanovi\u010d<\/span><\/i>. I am moved by them even now, as I sit on the bunk reading a tattered volume of poems by Maksim Bahdanovi\u010d from 1968 with some pages torn off and look at the tower of Pi\u0161\u010da\u0142a\u016d Castle shining white in the sun.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Ta\u0107ciana Niadbaj<\/b>, chair of PEN Belarus, spoke about mass purges in cultural institutions,<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs of December 1, we have learned about more than 100 names of cultural figures who have been fired or forced to leave after years or decades of work. And this is just the beginning of recording data on the avalanche of layoffs, sometimes there are almost a hundred people fired at just one institution. The scale is shocking. There is information about the existence of lists for mass dismissal of employees of cultural institutions. Naturally, these materials are kept secret; people are fired under various dates and for different reasons. So to speak, they cover up the purge, because if one just fires all the dissatisfied in December, one can make even the quiet museum workers protest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Maryja Kale\u015bnikava<\/b>, activist, musician, political prisoner, talked about what she would like to do when she is free,<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have a lot of ideas for music and cultural projects. For example, I would like to turn the pre-trial detention center into a cultural center, create a space, a museum of victims of communism, totalitarianism and other \u201cisms\u201d. And a social project: a center for the socialization and rehabilitation for women after imprisonment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n International Solidarity<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n A<\/span> Belarusian Youth Hub<\/i><\/b> has opened in Warsaw, Poland. Now there are Belarusian language courses <\/span>MOVA Nanova<\/span><\/i>, rehearsals of<\/span> Teatr TuT<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Warsaw Freedom Orchestra<\/span><\/i>, as well as shows of the <\/span>Revolution <\/span><\/i>art project.<\/span><\/p>\n Aksimiron<\/b>, rap musician from Russia, mentioned the political situation in Belarus in the lyrics of his new track <\/span>Window to Paris<\/span><\/i>,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cBlessed are the poor in spirit\u201d – so teaches us the Holy Scripture. Putin wears Celine, Lukashenka wears Margiela.<\/span><\/p>\n Vitold A\u0161urak<\/b>, a political prisoner who died behind bars, was posthumously awarded the Ukrainian Cross for \u201cDignity in captivity\u201d. Less than 100 people have received this award during its entire existence.<\/span><\/p>\n The book<\/span> Colours of a Parallel World<\/span><\/i> by <\/span>Miko\u0142a Dziadok<\/b>, a political prisoner, writer and blogger, was <\/span>published<\/span><\/a> in German. In this book, <\/span>Dziadok <\/b>talks about how the Belarusian penitentiary system destroys one\u2019s personality.<\/span><\/p>\n Political Prisoners\u2019 Birthdays<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-uladz\u0438m\u0438r-bulauski-e1638803325855-340x240.jpg\")
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A musical performance<\/a> by Palina Dabravolskaja<\/b>, a Belarusian actress, director and musician, based on Maryja Martysievi\u010d’s book Sarmatia<\/i>, took place in Wroclaw, Poland. Folk music and hip-hop are combined in the performance about the tragic history of the impossibility to find a home abroad.
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The International PEN demands the immediate and unconditional release of <\/span>Ale\u015b Bialacki<\/a> and <\/span>U\u0142adzimir Mackievi\u010d<\/a>, members of PEN Belarus and political prisoners.<\/span>
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