June 3, Pozirk. Belarusian exiled publishers Nadzieja Kandrusievič and Dźmitrjy Strocaŭ have been awarded the prestigious Prix Voltaire prize, in recognition of their contribution to the fight for freedom of expression, the International Publishers Association (IPA) reported.
The award ceremony took place yesterday in Norway’s Lillehammer at the World Expression Forum.
The fact that they “must continue publishing in exile as a consequence of their commitment to the freedom to publish deserves our respect and recognition,” said Kristenn Einarsson, chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee.
Kandrusievič, founder of the Koska children’s books publishing house, stressed that the award “belongs to all the translators, publishers, and writers who keep working despite all circumstances” and all the children and their parents “who believe in the power of a good book.”
Strocaŭ, a poet known for writing in Russian, delivered his address in Belarusian, noting that he used his extensive publishing experience to found the hochroth Minsk in Berlin, after he had been forced to flee Belarus fearing politically-motivated persecution. He described the award as a sign of support to Belarusian pro-democracy forces and “an open invitation to Belarusian independent publishers to join the global publishing family.”
Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has congratulated Kandrusievič and Strocaŭ, stressing their commitment to promoting “the Belarusian language, culture, and the quiet power of words” while in exile.
Belarusian publisher Ihar Łohvinaŭ won the Prix Voltaire in 2014. Exiled publisher Andrej Januškievič was shortlisted in 2024.
