PEN America
Donate Now
  • Issues & Advocacy
    • Book Bans
    • Educational Censorship
    • Campus Free Speech
    • Disinformation
    • Online Abuse
    • Writers at Risk
    • Artists at Risk Connection (ARC)
    • Global Advocacy
  • Writers & Readers
    • Literary Awards
    • Grants & Fellowships
    • PEN Across America
    • NYC Literary Action Coalition
    • Next Gen PEN
    • Prison and Justice Writing
    • Workshops & Trainings
    • Writers in the Schools Committee
    • Children’s and YA Books Committee
    • Translation Committee
  • Festival & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Event Series
    • Banned Books Week 2023
    • 2023 World Voices Festival
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Gala
    • World Press Freedom Day 2023
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony
    • Authors’ Evenings
  • Read The Latest
    • Research & Reports
    • Take Action
    • Press Releases
    • Interviews & Features
    • PEN America Publications
  • Membership
  • About
    • PEN America at 100
    • About Us
    • PEN America Washington D.C.
    • PEN America Los Angeles
    • PEN America Racial Equity Statement
    • Leadership and Staff
    • Trustees
    • Careers
    • Digital Archives
  • Give
    • Donate Now
    • Become a PEN America Young Patron
    • More Ways to Give
    • Shop
PEN America
Donate Now
  • Advocacy
    & Action
  • Writers
    & Readers
  • Festivals
    & Events
  • Issues & Advocacy
    • Book Bans
    • Educational Censorship
    • Campus Free Speech
    • Disinformation
    • Online Abuse
    • Writers at Risk
    • Artists at Risk Connection (ARC)
    • Global Advocacy
  • Writers & Readers
    • Literary Awards
    • Grants & Fellowships
    • PEN Across America
    • NYC Literary Action Coalition
    • Next Gen PEN
    • Prison and Justice Writing
    • Workshops & Trainings
    • Writers in the Schools Committee
    • Children’s and YA Books Committee
    • Translation Committee
  • Festival & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Event Series
    • Banned Books Week 2023
    • 2023 World Voices Festival
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Gala
    • World Press Freedom Day 2023
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony
    • Authors’ Evenings
  • Read The Latest
    • Research & Reports
    • Take Action
    • Press Releases
    • Interviews & Features
    • PEN America Publications
  • Membership
  • About
    • PEN America at 100
    • About Us
    • PEN America Washington D.C.
    • PEN America Los Angeles
    • PEN America Racial Equity Statement
    • Leadership and Staff
    • Trustees
    • Careers
    • Digital Archives
  • Give
    • Donate Now
    • Become a PEN America Young Patron
    • More Ways to Give
    • Shop
  • Home

Growing Repression and Persecution of Writers and Artists in Belarus, Ahead of Third Anniversary of Illegitimate Presidential Election

Press ReleaseAugust 7, 2023

“Belarusians are enduring profound restrictions of their fundamental rights and their cultural heritage is under serious threat and the world is not doing enough to preserve it. If we… More

PEN America Expresses Horror Over Untimely Death in Prison of Belarusian Artist and Activist Ales Pushkin

Press ReleaseJuly 12, 2023

PEN America’s Eurasia and Advocacy Director Polina Sadovskaya said: “We are horrified by the untimely death of dissident artist Ales Pushkin. As a well-known painter, performance artist, and activist,… More

New Report: 16 Writers and Public Intellectuals Jailed in Belarus in 2022, with 33 Writers at Risk for Persecution

Press ReleaseApril 27, 2023

“Belarusian culture does not have a place in its own country,” said Polina Sadovskaya, Eurasia and Advocacy Director at PEN America. “In 2022, the jailing of writers and public… More

Sharp Criticism of Decision Designating Journalists Group in Belarus “Extremist”

Press ReleaseMarch 9, 2023

The designation underscores the Belarusian authorities’ escalating attacks on independent journalism and free expression since Aleksander Lukashenka’s 2020 reelection, internationally regarded as “fraudulent.” More

Detailing Severe Human Rights Abuses in Belarus, Leaders Call on the UN Human Rights Council to Extend the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Belarus

newsJune 28, 2022

In Taped Reading, Author Margaret Atwood Reads Letter from her Belarusian Translator About the Arrests and Jailing of Writers, Journalists and Publishers   By Suzanne Trimel (NEW YORK)-- The severe deterioration of… More

PEN America Condemns Sentencing of Belarusian Philosopher Uladzimir Mackievic to Five Years in a Penal Colony After Closed-Door Hearing

Press ReleaseJune 27, 2022

“With each individual detained and incarcerated for their protests against Lukashenka, we see how the situation in Belarus deteriorates and grows more dire,” said Polina Sadovskaya, director of Eurasia… More

Suzanne Nossel headshot

The PEN Pod: On PEN Belarus, Book Bans, and Vaccine Misinformation with Suzanne Nossel

InterviewAugust 13, 2021

“Book bans are alive and well, and that they move with the culture. They tend to crop up as a battleground in connection with culture wars.” More

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya headshot

The PEN Pod: Resilience, Struggle, and the Fight for Freedom in Belarus with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

InterviewJuly 23, 2021

“I’m sure that Belarus will be a success story. We will win [against] autocracy. We will bring our country to democratic changes.” More

Summer Lopez headshot

The PEN Pod: On Authoritarian Regimes and Public Pressure Campaigns with Summer Lopez

InterviewJuly 16, 2021

“These governments are trying to send a clear message that you’re not safe or free, no matter where you go, to dissidents.” More

Demonstrators carrying an opposition flag at Independence Square in Belarus

Joint Call Condemning the Belarusian Regime’s Raids on Journalists and Human Rights Activists and Demanding the Release of those Detained

Open LetterJuly 15, 2021

We condemn the government of Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s relentless crackdown on journalists and human rights activists, and demand that Belarusian authorities cease their raids. More

Posts navigation

1 2 next

Join PEN America Today

Defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture.

Subscribe

Get updates on events, literary awards, free expression issues, and global news.

 
 

Support for the freedom to read with exclusive designs by Todd Parr, Mike Curato, Art Spiegelman, and more!

SHOP

Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?

CONTACT ARC

  • What's New
New Reports: California and Florida Push the Nation in Opposing Directions on Free Expression
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of November 20
Morgan Talty recommends what you should read for Native American Heritage Month
PEN America Joins with Other Groups in Condemning Cancellation of Play at Santa Monica College
PEN America
588 Broadway, Suite 303
New York, NY 10012
T (212) 334-1660 F (212) 334-2181
PEN America Los Angeles
1370 N. St Andrews Place
Los Angeles, CA 90028
T (323) 607-1867
PEN America Washington, D.C.
1100 13th Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20005
Donate Today
 
Copyright © 2023 PEN America. All rights reserved.   |   Privacy Policy