July 20, Pozirk. Belarus’ renowned author Sviatłana Kurs, who wrote under the pen name of Jeva Viežnaviec, died in Warsaw at the age of 54 after a battle with cancer.
Born in a village in the Minsk region in 1972, Kurs graduated from the philology department of Belarusian State University in 1994. She was a contributor to Nasha Niva, Euroradio, Belsat, which have been branded “extremist” as part of the Łukašenka regime’s crackdown on opponents since 2020.
Kurs moved to Poland in 2006. In 2021, she won the prestigious Jerzy Giedroyc Literary Award for her novel Pa Što Idzeš, Voŭča (What Now, Mr Wolf?).
In May 2025, Kurs was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. BySol appealed for public donations for her treatment, asking for 10,000 euros and eventually raising almost 20,000 euros.
In March 2026, Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja presented Kurs with the United Transitional Cabinet’s medal for her contribution to Belarusian culture.
In a message of condolences, Cichanoŭskaja described the writer’s death as a “great loss for all Belarus.” “She was an inspiration for everyone who loved Belarus and did something for the Belarusian cause,” Cichanoŭskaja wrote. “We will greatly miss you, Sviatłana, your words, your books, your advice and wise thoughts.”
