As of 31 August 2024, at least 164 cultural figures, including not less than 38 People of the Word, were behind bars.
Journalist, writer, and human rights defender Uladzimir Chilmanovič was sentenced in absentia to five years of imprisonment.
Historian Ruslan Praūda was sentenced to home confinement.
Ruslan Musvidas, soloist at M. Finberg National Academic Concert Orchestra, was sentenced to home confinement.
Maryja Kalesnikava does not get letters in the penal colony; they are torn before her.
Local history enthusiast Uladzimir Hundar, recognised as a political prisoner, was deprived of food parcels until March 2025.
A court in Belarus designated designer Uladzimir Cesler (Tsesler)’s Instagram page as “extremist materials.”
Historian Ihar Mielnikaū’s three books were labelled “extremist.” The historian has remained behind bars for six months, awaiting trial in a politically motivated criminal case.
The video and song based on Janka Kupala’s poem Who Are You? (1908) were labelled “extremist.”
I. Criminal prosecution of cultural figures, authors, and performers
1. On 16 August, it became known that the Investigative Committee began the so-called special proceedings against comedian Slava Kamisaranka under three articles of the Criminal Code, including the “insult of the president.” Courts in Belarus apply “special proceedings,” or trial in absentia, against people physically not present in Belarus.
2. On 19 August, the Hrodna Regional Court convicted journalist, writer, and human rights defender Uladzimir Chilmanovič in absentia. He was found guilty of “repeatedly facilitating extremist activities” and taking part in “an extremist formation.” He was sentenced to five years in a medium-security penal colony and a fine of 1,000 base units or 40,000 BYN (~ $12,204) under Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361.4, Part 3, Article 361.1 of the Criminal Code. A TV, a washing machine, a refrigerator, a computer system unit, a cultural and educational building in Navasiolki, Mastoūski district, and an apartment were confiscated from him. The evidence in the case includes screenshots with the texts from Uladzimir Chilmanovič’s blog. Uladzimir has not lived in Belarus for more than three years.
3. On 19 August, it became known that guitarist Ruslan Praūda was sentenced to home confinement under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). The term of punishment is still unknown. Ruslan Praūda played in the initial line-up of the Krama rock band formed in 1991. Since 2004, he has played with The Little Blues.
4. Ruslan Musvidas, soloist of the M. Finberg National Academic Concert Orchestra, was sentenced to home confinement under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). The term of punishment is still unknown.
5. Historian Ihar Mielnikaū has remained behind bars for about six months, awaiting trial and facing charges under Part 1 of Article 361.4 of the Criminal Code (facilitating extremist activity). The trial will begin on 10 September.
II. Administrative prosecution
On 22 August, the Dokšycy District Court punished Hienadz Dzianskievič, the owner of the Naračanski Kraj farmstead in the village of Stanislaūcy, Dokšycy district, for “disseminating extremist materials,” under an article in the Code of Administrative Offences. Hienadz Dzianskievič runs a video channel on YouTube. The outcome of the trial is yet to be known.
III. Conditions in place of incarceration
1. In female penal colony No 4 in Homiel, Maryja Kalesnikava does not get letters in the penal colony; they are torn before her.
2. Local history enthusiast Uladzimir Hundar, recognized as a political prisoner, was deprived of food parcels until March 2025.
IV. Censorship and persecution for artistic works
1. On 17 August, Mahiloū’s Leninski District Court designated the Belarusian-language Wikipedia fans’ community on VKontakte and the Wikipedia channel on Telegram as “extremist materials.”
2. On 23 August, the district court in Puchavičy, Minsk region, designated designer Uladzimir Cesler (Tsesler)’s Instagram page as “extremist materials.”
3. On 30 August, it became known that the Barysaū District Court labelled as “extremist materials” Lyapis Trubetskoy band’s song and music video Cattle Is Not What I Want to Be based on Belarusian literature classic Janka Kupala’s 1908 poem Who Are You?.
4. On 30 August, it became known that Minsk’s Central District Court designated as “extremist” three books by the historian Ihar Mielnikaū: Ničyparuk P.K., Mielnikaū I.B. Odyssey of a Palessie Man. Minsk: Alpha-book, 2017; Mielnikaū, I. B. The Forgotten Corps: The History of the Polish Army on the Territory of Babrujsk Region in 1918, 1919–1920. Minsk: Alpha-book, 2018; Mielnikaū, I. B. On the “Border of Civilizations”. Pages of history of the Pre-War Soviet-Polish Border in Belarus Minsk: Alfa-kniga, 2020. Ihar Mielnikaū has remained behind bars for six months under investigation in a politically motivated criminal case. The trial is scheduled for 10 September.
V. Forced emigration of cultural figures
Dzmitry Jesianievič, a Kupala Theatre actor and member of the ChinChinChannel satirical show on YouTube, left Belarus under the threat of repression. The actor was detained in May 2024 after returning from a tour abroad. He served an administrative arrest in the Akrescina detention centre.
VI. Dismissals of cultural figures
Andrej Huzij was dismissed from the post of the head of the Belarusian State Youth Theatre.