As of 15 August 2024, at least 165 cultural figures, including not less than 38 People of the Word, were behind bars.
PaRAnoia Dolls band drummer Dzmitry Šałak was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and a fine.
Journalist and writer Aleś Kirkievič was sentenced to seven years in prison, a fine and confiscation of property.
Authorities opened “special proceedings” in the criminal case against artist Vijaleta Majšuk.
Anarchist movement activist and writer Mikoła Dziadok has spent more than one year in solitary confinement.
The music video after Alaksandr Bal’s poem Trouble in My Homeland was labelled “extremist.”
І. Criminal prosecution of cultural figures, authors and performers
1. On 2 August, the Hrodna Regional Court sentenced in absentia the journalist and writer Aleś Kirkievič to seven years in a penal colony, a fine of 24,000 rubles (~ $7,310) and confiscation of property under Part 1 and 2 of Article 361.4 of the Criminal Code (facilitating extremist activities). Aleś Kirkievič was repeatedly subjected to criminal and administrative prosecution. Special proceedings (the trial in absentia) began on 29 March 2024, when he had already been outside the borders of Belarus. Aleś Kirkievič is the author of the book of short stories Samurai (2018). In 2018, he became a laureate of the Francišak Alachnovič Literary Award, founded by Radio Svaboda (Belarusian Service of Radio Liberty) and the Belarusian PEN Center and given for the best work written in prison.
2. On 8 August, the Navapolack City Court sentenced Dzmitry Šałak, an employee of the Naftan oil refinery, drummer of the PaRAnoia Dolls band, to three and a half years in a minimum-security penal colony and a fine of 200 base rates, or 8,000 rubles (~ $2450). He was convicted under Article 368 (insulting the president) and Article 369 (insulting a representative of power) of the Criminal Code.
3. On 13 August, the special proceedings (the trial in absentia) began in the criminal case against artist Vijaleta Majšuk. She is charged with creating an “extremist formation” under Article 361.1 of the Criminal Code.
II. Administrative prosecution
On 5 August, Łarysa Maciušeūskaja, a teacher from Kochanava, local historian, and school museum director, appeared in the Taločyn District Court in an administrative trial under Part 2 of Article 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences (distribution of information products included in the list of extremist materials). In modern Belarus, this means a subscription to independent media outlets.
III. Dismissals of cultural figures over their civic stance
1. On 7 August, it became known that Sviatlana Karukina, the National Theatre of Belarusian Drama director, was fired.
2. On 9 August, it became known that the director of the Homiel Puppet Theatre, Dzmitry Harelik, was fired. In January 2024, he stood an administrative trial under Part 2 of Article 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences (distribution of information products included in the list of extremist materials). In modern Belarus, this means a subscription to independent media outlets. Dzmitry Harelik managed the Homiel Puppet Theatre from 1 June 1992.
IV. Conditions in places of confinement
An activist of the anarchist movement, writer Mikoła Dziadok has been in solitary confinement for more than a year. He is the author of the book Colours of the Parallel World (2017), which is dedicated to the analysis of the Belarusian prison system and the methods used by the administration to break prisoners’ will. The book is based on the author’s experience during the first politically motivated imprisonment, in 2010-2015. In 2017, Mikoła Dziadok became a laureate of the Francišak Alachnovič Literary Award, founded by Radio Svaboda (Belarusian Service of Radio Liberty) and the Belarusian PEN Centre and given for the best work written in prison. On 10 November 2021, the Minsk City Court sentenced Mikoła Dziadok to five years in a penal colony under Article 342, Article 361, Article 295.3 of the Criminal Code.
V. Censorship and persecution for works of art
On 6 August, Mahilioū’s Leninski District Court labelled the music video after Alaksandr Bal’s poem Trouble in My Homeland “extremist.” Alaksandr Bal is a poet, bard, and author of music for performances and was in charge of music at the Mahilioū Regional Drama Theatre. He was dismissed for political reasons, sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest, and fled Belarus due to persecution.