The Association of Belarusian Publishers — the first professional organization uniting Belarusian publishers regardless of where they currently work — has been officially registered in Krakow.
Belarusian books at a book fair in Poland
The idea of establishing the organization was formulated back in November 2025 during the Pradmova intellectual book festival in Warsaw. At that time, eleven representatives of the publishing sector signed a declaration of cooperation and expressed their readiness to create a common professional structure. A few months later, this idea received legal embodiment in Poland.
The creators of the Association note that its emergence is directly linked to the conditions in which Belarusian book publishing exists today. Inside Belarus, independent publishing houses and cultural organizations have faced serious restrictions; many have been liquidated or deprived of the opportunity to operate fully. As a result, a significant portion of the Belarusian book sector has moved outside the country. According to the founders' estimates, today more than two dozen Belarusian publishing houses operate abroad, with the largest number working in Poland.
The new organization is designed to help these publishing houses operate more cohesively. It will be involved in coordinating joint projects, representing the interests of Belarusian publishers, developing international contacts, and seeking new opportunities for cooperation. An important task is also to represent the Belarusian book sector on the international stage as a unified professional community.
Valentina Barbara Andreeva has been elected head of the Association. Ilya Andreev became the deputy chairman.
Among the organization's immediate plans is to hold a general meeting at which the procedure for admitting new members will be determined. The development of an ethical code for Belarusian publishers and the expansion of Belarusian book participation in cultural events of the Belarusian diaspora in various countries are also planned.
The Association has also declared its openness to cooperation with foreign publishing organizations, cultural institutions, book fairs, and everyone who supports the principles of free speech and independent culture.
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