Dissident writer Sviatłana Kurs dies of cancer at 54

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.”
Opposition cabinet to award medals to outstanding Belarusians, Ukrainians
- Economy, PoliticsGeneva to remain seat for Biełaruśkalij-Lithuania fertilizer transit arbitrationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ new car sales up 2 percent in OctoberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityBelarusian military command learning advanced troop deployment, underground warfare tacticsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyLithuania arrests two suspected of smuggling cigarettes from Belarus by airThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus’ border guards seize toy helicopter, drone at Polish borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyEnvoy invites Slovak business executives to visit Belarus in 2027The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsOpposition politician expects Latvian MPs to form For a Democratic Belarus groupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecuritySecretary general touts OSCE as “platform for dialogue” during Minsk visitThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityEuropean Court of Human Rights to rule on pushback complaints against Poland, Latvia and LithuaniaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Society, SportCanada to bar Belarusian, Russian ice hockey players from junior tournamentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SecurityGerman troops in Lithuania scanning for new air defense radars in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus’ gold and foreign exchange reserves down 2.6 percent in OctoberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPoland may extend validity period of its travel document for foreigners to two yearsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus must be on agenda of Ukraine peace talks, Cichanoŭskaja saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyCouncil of Europe experts point to flaws in Belarus’ system to combat human traffickingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Germany news, SocietyBelarus arrests local Bayer employees on tax evasion chargesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLavrov rules out engagement with EU, Ryžankoŭ urges Brussels to end self-isolationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsVilnius rules out Belarus sanctions review without policy shift in MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+


