(2020–2023)
In October 2019, PEN Belarus started monitoring violations of rights in the cultural sphere. Since the stolen election in 2020 Belarus has experienced an unprecedented wave of repression against civil society, independent media, and the cultural sector. According to human rights center Viasna 36 418 people have been subjected to administrative prosecution; more than 400 Belarusians are on the list of “terrorists”, 4 100 are labelled as “extremists”; 1 012 people had already served their sentences and were released; 7 people died behind bars. As of November 14, 2024, there were 1 276 political prisoners in Belarus. As of October 31, 2024, at least 164 cultural figures were imprisoned in Belarus. Among them, at least 38 imprisoned writers. The poem by Taciana Niadbaj is written in solidarity with her colleagues.
Detained and released without report
Good it was just three days, not a fine
Good there was no beating
Good it was a fine, not 24 hours
Good it was 24 hours, but at least with a mattress
Good it was 15 days, but not 30
Good there was no beating
Good it was straight 90 days, not criminal
Good it was a criminal case, no beatings
Good it was home chemistry, not chemistry [1]
Good it was chemistry, not years in prison
Good it was 2 or 3 years, not ten
Good it was in SIZA[2] , not in a colony
Good it was a colony of the general regime, not the intensified[3]
Good there were letters, though it was the intensified
Good it was in a colony, not in PKT[4]
Good it was in PKT, not in ŠYZA[5]
Good it was in ŠYZA, but healthy
Beaten up, but at least healthy
Good if that he got out, now planning treatment
Still in prison, but at least alive
I pray only that he gets out alive
[1] Chemistry” ~ a common sentence: imprisonment (restricted freedom) in an open-type correctional facility + hard labour. “Home chemistry” when the sentence includes the wording „without being sent to an open-type correctional facility.“ Your freedom is still restricted and you still have to do hard labor, but you are at home, although under police watch.
[2] SIZA – an infamous abbreviation for a “pretrial detention center,” where one is imprisoned while investigation goes on.
[3] Corrective colony regimes are categorized as very strict/special, strict, general, and open” but according to Radio Svaboda, there are colonies of “general, intensified, and strict regime” in Belarus.
[4] PKT, an abbreviation for a “cell-type space/room/premises/ward.” This is usually a space in a colony where one is sent for violating internal order, rules. One can be kept there for up to 6 months.
[5] ŠYZA, an abbreviation for “fine/penalty
