Information ministry bans 16 books, including Methuselah Lamp by Pelevin

February 26, Pozirk. Belarus’ censors have banned 16 more books from distribution in the country, including the postmodern satirical novel Лампа Мафусаила, или Крайняя битва чекистов с масонами (Methuselah’s Lamp) by Viktor Pelevin, according to the information ministry.
The ministry said that the books can harm Belarus’ national interests.
Other banned titles include Улыбка — пилигрим души (Smile is Soul’s Pilgrim), a collection of poems by Vladimir Khoroshko.
Books by John Boyne and Sergei Kuznetsov have been listed for the second time. The list contains a total of 241 entries, including popular works of literature and history.
Information Minister Marat Markaŭ defended state censorship last year, claiming that the opposition is engaging in “subversive activities” through literature and books.
Among the authors banned in Belarus are Saša Filipienka, Irvine Welsh, Hunter S. Thompson, Dr. Dorota Michaluk, Nana Ekvtimishvili and William Burroughs.
In 2023, the government amended the publishing law to empower the information ministry to blacklist books.
The ministry’s censorship body is called the National Commission on the Assessment of Symbols, Merchandise and Information Products.
Information ministry bans 52 books from distribution in Belarus
- Politics, SocietyIrregular Belarus-Latvia crossings exceed 5,000 since late MarchThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNigerian MPs to visit Belarus this monthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: jailed media managers among dozens branded “extremists”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Security, SocietyAir raid alert in Lithuania’s Vilnius county near Belarus borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja looking for ideas ahead of New Belarus ConferenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus wood pellet industry in deep crisis following EU sanctions and failed evasion attempts, report saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyPole gets 30 months in prison for smuggling Belarusian cigarettesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityEnding Ukraine war hinges on several people, Łukašenka saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society, SportUkraine urges 30 international federations to maintain restrictions on Belarusian athletesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHouse of Representatives approves ratification bill for agreement with Togo on visa-free travel for officialsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus to repair road at Bieniakoni checkpoint until July – border committeeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsLithuania's top diplomat pushes for EU sanctions on Łukašenka's regimeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy, SocietyPoland cracks down on cigarette smuggling ring linked to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka seeks expanded ties, visa facilitation with PhilippinesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk blames EU sanctions for irregular migration crisis since 2021The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: KGB intensifies raids on blacklisted university’s alumni and familiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+


