Belarusian Artists, Publishers and Scientists Face Persecution as Alleged Extremists

Independent Belarusian artists, publishers and scientists are being persecuted as alleged extremists, according to an analysis by author Felix Ackermann. The vast majority of those targeted either live in exile or are imprisoned. The crackdown persists even as international attention on the Lukashenko regime has diminished following former U.S. President Donald Trump's outreach. The article, published by Neue Zürcher Zeitung, draws a parallel between Russia's failed attempt to capture Kyiv and its ongoing absorption of Minsk. It argues that Russia's ambitions extend beyond Ukraine, with Belarus increasingly drawn into Moscow's orbit. The title suggests that while the military conquest of Kyiv did not succeed, the political takeover of Minsk is advancing. The piece appears in the Feuilleton section, indicating a cultural focus on the repression of intellectuals. No specific names of persecuted individuals, dates, or locations beyond the mentioned cities are provided in the source material. The situation highlights the ongoing risks faced by cultural producers in Belarus under the Lukashenko government.