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News

23.03.2026. Two new books on the list of “extremist materials”

Today it became known that on March 13, 2026 two new books were added to the list of “extremist materials.” Pavel Antipov, To Arrive Somewhere, Do Something, and Leave (Miane Niama, 2025) Yuri Felshtinsky, Natalia Radina’s Belarus. A Journalist Against the Dictator (ISIA Media Verlag, 2025) We remind you that the inclusion in the “National List

10.03.2026. New book on the list of “extremist materials”

Today it became known that on March 6, 2026, by the decision of the Partyzanski District Court of Minsk, a new book was added to the list of “extremist materials.” Diaries of an NKVD Officer: A Documentary Exposure of Stalinism, comp., ed., and comment. by A. Zelenkova We remind you that the inclusion in the

27.02.26. Sixteen new books added to the official list of those “harmful to national interests”

On February 26, 2026, 16 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”: A Smile – A Pilgrim of the Soul: Poems, Translations — Vladimir Khoroshko (Belarus) BDSM. Infinite Kindness, Compassion and Mercy — Alexander Chashchin (Russia) Your Mari

26.02.2026. New book on the list of “extremist materials”

Today it became known that on February 18, 2026, by the decision of the Partyzanski District Court of Minsk, a new book was added to the list of “extremist materials.” Eliash Bart, Dzha: The Legend of the Stolen Heart (Technałohija, 2023) This is a children’s story about a dinosaur named Dzha who collected curious treasures: feathers, shells,

Film premiere! Belarus. Banned Books

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. PEN Belarus documents every case to ensure that the truth about cultural repression is preserved and heard. In the film, we talk about the

Exhibition “Belarus: Voices of Banned Books”

Why are books banned in Belarus, who assesses their “harmfulness,” and how does the censorship mechanism work overall? We do not have clear answers to these questions. A distinctive feature of the Belarusian situation is the absence of any coherent explanation from the repressive authorities. Books are removed from libraries, bookshops, and school curricula —

29.12.25. 52 new books added to the official list of those “harmful to national interests”

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 the Planet: Stories about Wild Animals — Jan Bouvin Jansen, Lotte Stegmann Daddy — Hélène Delforge, Quentin Gréban Where Do Babies Come

19.11.2025. Two new books on the list of “extremist materials”

On November 13 the Ministry of Information updated the list of “extremist materials” and added two new books: Sasha Filipenko, Red Crosses (Kraków: «Gutenberg», 2025) Sasha Filipenko, The Elephant (Kraków: «Gutenberg», 2025) Sasha Filipenko is a Belarusian writer, journalist, TV host, PEN Belarus member. He is the author of the novels The Elephant, Red Crosses, Extermination, Former Son, Ideas, Return to

15.11.2025. Report from an exhibition of banned books

On 15 November 2025, an exhibition dedicated to banned books in Belarus was presented in Gdańsk. The exhibition opened as part of the award ceremony for the winners of the Jerzy Giedroyc Prize, the largest Belarusian literary award. So, what did visitors at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk discover when confronted with a visual

03.11.2025. New book on the list of “extremist materials”

Today it became known that on November 3, 2025, by the decision of the Leninsky District Court of Mahiloŭ, a new book was added to the list of “extremist materials.” There They Are, and Here We Are: Belarusian Poetry and Poems of Solidarity, Edited and compiled by V. Korkunov. Afterword by U. Verina (Moscow: Nedovolny, 2021)