Belarus Publisher Honored in Exile at U.S. Publishers Association
- The Association of American Publishers awarded the International Freedom to Publish Award to a Belarusian publisher operating from Poland.
- This publisher has faced severe persecution, including censorship and the revocation of its license by Belarusian authorities.
- The recognition underscores the importance of defending freedom of expression and the role of literature in maintaining cultural identity.
A Belarusian publishing house has been forced to operate from Poland due to government persecution, which has included revoking its license and making it illegal to publish in Belarus. The Association of American Publishers recognized the courage of this publisher by awarding it the International Freedom to Publish Award. This award is given to non-U.S. publishers who demonstrate bravery in defending freedom of expression. The leaders of the publishing house have faced censorship, imprisonment, and exile while striving to provide literature in the Belarusian language. Andrej Januškevič, a representative of the publishing house, emphasized the importance of the Belarusian language in preserving culture and heritage, expressing hope that their work would offer comfort and inspiration to those affected by the political situation in Belarus. The recognition highlights the ongoing struggles faced by publishers in oppressive regimes and the vital role of literature in maintaining cultural identity.