Image featuring a quote in white and red text on a black background. The quote discusses the labeling of writers and free expression defenders as 'extremists,' highlighting the government's fear of words. It praises PEN Belarus for supporting writers facing repression. Attributed to Summer Lopez & Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, Co-CEOs, with PEN America logo at the bottom.

PEN America strongly condemns the Belarusian authorities’ designation of @penbelarus.bsky.social as an “extremist organization.” The move is a dangerous escalation in the government’s ongoing assault on free expression and Belarusian culture independent of state control.
pen.org/press-releas...

International Women’s Day 2026: Take Action for Valeryja Kaściuhova (Belarus) – PEN Belarus 8 March 2026: Writer, editor and political scientist Valeryja Kaściuhova is serving a 10-year prison sentence in Homel, Belarus. Arrested in June 2021, she was convicted in March 2023 on politically m...

#InternationalWomenDay: Imagine being behind bars just for being a woman who writes and speaks out. The Belarusian authorities must release #ValeryjaKaściuhova immediately and unconditionally and ensure she has access to medical care while detained. Stand with her today. #IWD26

PEN Belarus Designated an “Extremist Formation”! – PEN Belarus Friends, On February 27, 2026, the KGB designated us an “extremist formation.” What does this mean? If you are in Belarus, travel to Belarus, or feel that you may be at risk for any reason: unsubscrib...

#Belarus: PEN International condemns the authorities’ decision to declare PEN Belarus an ‘extremist formation’, which carries the risk of criminal prosecution. We stand in full solidarity with colleagues in their mission to uphold free expression and cultural rights.

penbelarus.org/en/2026/03/0...

Belarus: Statement on the systematic confiscation and destruction of manuscripts by prison authorities – PEN Belarus In Belarus, prison authorities systematically confiscate and destroy the literary manuscripts and letters of those imprisoned on politically motivated grounds. Their aim is not only to silence individ...

March 3 – World Writers’ Day.
On this day, we want to draw attention to the systematic practice of confiscating and destroying the literary manuscripts and letters of those imprisoned on politically motivated grounds.

❤️‍🩹 Share our statement!

Monitoring of violations of cultural rights and human rights of cultural figures. Belarus, 2025 – PEN Belarus This report has been prepared based on consolidated information collected by PEN Belarus’ monitoring group from open sources, through personal contacts, and via direct communication with cultural figu...

#Belarus: 1435 instances of human rights violations against cultural figures documented by @penbelarus.bsky.social in 2025. We continue to urge accountability and unfettered support for Belarusian culture. Read and share widely: penbelarus.org/en/2026/02/1...

29.12.25. 52 new books added to the official list of those “harmful to national interests” – Belarus. Banned Books On December 29, 2025, 52 new books were added to the list of printed publications that, according to the authorities, “may harm the national interests of the Republic of Belarus”: Our Neighbours on th...

52 new books have been banned in Belarus.

The list also included the book by Darota Michaluk “The Belarusian People’s Republic, 1918–1920: At the Origins of Belarusian Statehood.” Books on Belarusian history whose content does not align with the regime’s Russia-oriented policy are often banned.

Belarus: Persecution for Artistic Expression – PEN Belarus INTRODUCTION Artistic freedom and protection of cultural diversity Artistic freedom [1] is the freedom to imagine, create and distribute diverse cultural expressions free of governmental censorship, p...

A new analytical report dedicated to artistic freedom and the protection of cultural diversity has been published on the PEN Belarus website.

We have gathered several examples of how artistic and cultural activities can become central elements in criminal charges.

Belarus: UN submission highlights brutal crackdown on cultural rights – PEN Belarus 30 October 2025 – As the human rights record of Belarus comes under review at the United Nations on 3 November 2025, PEN Belarus, PEN International and PEN America reiterate grave concerns over the Be...

As the human rights record of Belarus comes under review at the UN on 3 November 2025, PEN Belarus, @peninternational.bsky.social and @penamerica.bsky.social reiterate grave concerns over the Belarusian authorities’ brutal clampdown on freedom of expression, cultural rights and linguistic rights.

Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli: laureates of the 2025 Sakharov Prize | News | European Parliament The two journalists, imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia, are the laureates of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, to be awarded by Parliament on 16 December.

Andrzej Poczobut has become a laureate of the 2025 Sakharov Prize!

You can learn more about him here: penbelarus.org/en/2024/06/2...

IMPORTANT!

Dossier BIELORÚSSIA

@penbelarus.bsky.social
@peninternational.bsky.social

06.10.2025. Three new books on the list of “extremist materials” – Belarus. Banned Books On September 26 the Ministry of Information updated the list of “extremist materials” and added three new books: Valer Hapiejeŭ, Volniery. The Harbinger (Januškievič, 2023) Valer Hapiejeŭ, Volniery. T...

On September 26 the Ministry of Information updated the list of “extremist materials” and added three new books.

Among these books is a finalist of the largest Belarusian literary award, the Jerzy Giedroyc Prize, for 2023: Valer Hapiejeŭ with his book "Volniery. The Harbinger".

#BannedBooksBelarus

01.10.2025. Three new books on the list of “extremist materials” – Belarus. Banned Books Yesterday it became known that on September 26 the Ministry of Information updated the list of “extremist materials” and added three new books: Timothy Snyder, On Freedom (Kyiv: Nash Format, 2023(?)) ...

On September 26 the Ministry of Information updated the list of “extremist materials” and added three new books.
Among these books is the winner of the largest Belarusian literary award, the Jerzy Giedroyc Prize, for 2023: One Must Imagine Sisyphus Happy, Valancin Akudovič.

#BannedBooksBelarus

30.09.25. 32 new books added to the official list of those “harmful to national interests” – Belarus. Banned Books On September 30, 2025, 32 new books were added to the list of printed publications that, according to the authorities, “may harm the national interests of the Republic of Belarus,” including two books...

On September 30, 2025, 32 new books were added to the list of printed publications that, according to the authorities, “may harm the national interests of the Republic of Belarus,” including two books by PEN Belarus member Sasha Filipenko.

#BannedBooksBelarus

It destroys part of Belarusian culture. We are losing books, ideas, words that remain in prisons and may never make it out to their readers. It violates the right to freedom of speech and expression for those behind bars. Both people and books must be freed.

More and more often we learn that manuscripts are being confiscated from imprisoned writers in Belarusian prisons. Among those who has told us about this are former political prisoners Uładzimir Mackievič, Hienadź Fiadynič, Ihar Karniej, and others.

The philosopher and essayist Uładzimir Mackievič, released on September 11th together with other political prisoners, gave his first interview, in which he raised an important issue:

Manuscripts are being confiscated from imprisoned writers...

Both people and books must be freed!

👉 You can learn more about the current state of Belarusian books here: bannedbooks.penbelarus.org/en

Belarus: Writers released and forced into exile – PEN Belarus ‘While we rejoice at the sight of Belarusian writers walking free after experiencing immense suffering, we utterly condemn their forced exile. The PEN community will continue to tirelessly campaign fo...

While we welcome the release of writers after immense suffering, we utterly condemn their forced exile and call for their rights to be upheld.

Read our joint statement with @peninternational.bsky.social

During our 91st Congress Opening Ceremony in Kraków we brought together Burhan Sönmez, Olga Tokarczuk & Margaret Atwood.

They each spoke out against repression in literature & the growing tide of censorship.

@penbelarus.bsky.social honoured Andrzej Poczobut as the Empty Chair.

Three new books on the list of “extremist materials” – Belarus. Banned Books Today it became known that on September 10, by the decision of the Minsk’s Zavodski District Court, three new books were added to the list of “extremist materials.” Rainer Zitelmann, “Hitler: The Worl...

Today it became known that three more books have been banned in Belarus.

The banning of books is not only an act of censorship, but also a violation of the right to freedom of expression and access to information, as enshrined in international treaties.

Bielorússia: 52 presos polítics alliberats, però més de mil continuen empresonats - PEN Català Actualment, hi ha més de mil presos polítics a Bielorússia, entre els quals prop de 33 són escriptors i professionals de la paraula, i 222 llibres estan prohibits.

Des del PEN Català celebrem l’alliberament de 52 presos polítics a Bielorússia. Però més de 1.000 persones continuen empresonades, entre elles 33 escriptors, i 222 llibres estan prohibits.

@peninternational.bsky.social @penbelarus.bsky.social

Six imprisoned Writers Have Been Released! – PEN Belarus On 11 September, 52 political prisoners (including 14 foreign citizens), were freed and forcibly taken out of Belarus. The pardons followed a meeting between Lukashenka and an American delegation that...

Six Imprisoned Writers Have Been Released!

On 11 September, 52 political prisoners were freed and forcibly taken out of Belarus. Among those freed are some of our imprisoned writers: Uładzimir Mackievič, Mikoła Dziadok, Zmicier Daškievič, Łarysa Ščyrakova, Pavieł Mažejka, Pavieł Vinahradaŭ.

Thank you so much for your support!

Drawing of Maksim Znak

Freedom of expression.

#HappyBirthday
#FreeMaksimZnak

@penbelarus.bsky.social
@peninternational.bsky.social

www.suomenpen.fi/en/valkovena...

Thank you so much!

Maksim Znak – PEN Belarus Lawyer, advocacte, poet, bard, author of the book "Zekamerone".

Tercer dia del #congresspen

Comencem amb una nova cadira buida. Advocat de molts represaliats pel govern Bielorússia, porta dos anys incomunicat, fa dos anys que ningú l'ha vist.

@penbelarus.bsky.social
@peninternational.bsky.social

penbelarus.org/en/2024/03/1...

Belarus. Banned Books

PEN Belarus has launched the website: bannedbooks.penbelarus.org/en/

There you can find all the information about books banned in Belarus.

Join us in spreading the word about banned books in Belarus and standing up for the right to read.

#bannedbooksbelarus

Torture and discrimination against women in Belarus: “Legal Initiative” appeals to CEDAW to initiate an investigation – PEN Belarus The Belarusian human rights organization Legal Initiative has submitted an official request to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), calling for an investigation...

Torture and discrimination against women in Belarus — “Legal Initiative” and other human rights organizations have appealed to CEDAW, demanding the initiation of an international investigation.

Sign our open appeal: forms.gle/ACmPQ8Rsoun3...

#JusticeForBelarusWomen

Vaclav Havel Center Announces Winner of 2025 'Disturbing the Peace' Award - Vaclav Havel Center It is our honor to announce that Maksim Znak, Belarusian lawyer, activist, and writer, is the 10th recipient of the Vaclav Havel Center’s Disturbing the Peace Award to a Courageous Writer at Risk. Cur...

Belarusian lawyer & writer Maksim Znak, jailed since 2020 on spurious charges, has been awarded the 2025 Disturbing the Peace Award.

We call for his immediate release & stand with all writers risking their freedom for truth.

havelcenter.org/2025/08/08/v...

Monitoring of violations of cultural rights and human rights of cultural figures. Belarus, January – June 2025 – PEN Belarus [БЕЛ: Чытаць маніторынг па-беларуску] [РУС: Читать мониторинг по-русски] This report is based on aggregated information collected by the PEN Belarus monitoring group during the first half of 2025 from...

☄️ New report out! ☄️

Read our latest monitoring report to see the full picture. Help us spread the word! Share this report to keep the voices of Belarusian culture alive.

Support the work of PEN Belarus experts on Patreon: www.patreon.com/penbelarus

#penbelarus #culturalrights #imprisonedwriters