Polish cultural figures detained on Belarusian border

Customs officers found suspicious the books and newspapers carried by Polish citizens.

Agnieszka Korytkowska-Mazur, the director of Bialystok-based dramatic theatre, journalist Maciej Cholodowski, director of the department of culture at the Podlaskie Voivodeship Marshal’s Office Anatol Wap were going to visit Hrodna and Minsk to meet with their Belarusian colleagues. Radio Racyja learnt it from Pawel Grzes, the director of the foundation Villa Sokrates, who accompanied the delegation.

“They took our books and checked them for 30 or 40 minutes. One book was about the Polish contemporary art and the avant-garde art of the 1970s. Customs officers found it interesting that we wanted to bring this book in Belarus. They took the Annus Albaruthenicus anthology, seven copies of Niva and other books. The books were returned. But they said we should take less literature to Belarus next time,” Pawel Grzes said.

Belarusian customs officers returned all books. The delegation continues the visit.