News
06.10.2025. Three new books on the list of “extremist materials”
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. The Endless Day (Januškievič, 2024) Douglas E. Nash & Remy Spezzano, Kampfgruppe Mühlenkamp: 5th SS Panzer Division “Wiking”, Eastern Poland, July 1944 (2020) Among these books is a finalist of
01.10.2025. Three new books on the list of “extremist materials”
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(?)) Valancin Akudovič, The Code of Absence (Łohvinaŭ) Valancin Akudovič, One Must Imagine Sisyphus Happy (Łohvinaŭ) Among these books is the winner of the largest
30.09.25. 32 new books added to the official list of those “harmful to national interests”
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: Day of the Dead. A Book with Fascinating Tasks – comp. S.A. Stankevich The Elephant –
10.09.2025. Three new books on the list of “extremist materials”
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 Worldview of a Revolutionary” (Moscow: Socium, 2023(?)) Hermann Hoth, “The Collapse of Operation Barbarossa” (Moscow: Yauza-Press, 2025) Wilhelm von Leeb, Franz Halder, “The
4.09.25. New Analytical Report “The Belarusian book under repression”
Read on our website the new analytical report “The Belarusian book under repression.” The year 2020 marked a turning point for Belarusian culture. Progress that had been made – limited though it was under an authoritarian regime – did not merely stall; structures created by the independent cultural sector were effectively dismantled, as was the
2.09.2025. Opening of the Exhibition “Belarus. Voices of Banned Books”
On September 2, PEN Belarus presented an exhibition dedicated to books banned in Belarus at the opening of the 91st PEN International Congress in Kraków. We are deeply grateful to our partners from PEN Poland and PEN International for their support in organizing the exhibition. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to all visitors for
31 new books added to the official list of those “harmful to national interests”
On August 4, 2025, 31 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”: Blood Cruise – Mats Strandberg The Will – Nina Wähä Buttons and Rage: Her Heart. His Revenge – Penelope Sky Buttons and Lace: Her Debt.
The informal list: what it’s all about
The banning of books in Belarus is a tool of political censorship and systemic repression that violates both national and international law. There are three types of banned book lists in Belarus: two official ones and one informal list, which does not exist publicly but is well known to libraries and bookstores, who know which