Januškevi? Publishing House, a book publisher from Belarus now based in Poland due to government persecution, has been acknowledged by the Association of American Publishers. The prestigious International Freedom to Publish Award was granted to the publishing house for its tenacity in protecting freedom of expression. This accolade has previously been bestowed upon publishers from various nations such as South Africa, Guatemala, and Venezuela.
Founded by Andrej Januškevi? a decade ago, the publishing house faced adversity when Januškevi? was arrested and imprisoned in 2022 for distributing books in the Belarusian language, which was denounced by the Russian-aligned government. Subsequently, Januškevi? sought refuge in Poland and continued his publishing endeavors. Belarusian officials have gone as far as to revoke the publishing house’s license and that of several other publishers, making it illegal for them to conduct business in their home country.
Maria Pallante, the CEO and president of the Association of American Publishers, commended the leaders of Januškevi? Publishing House for their resilience against censorship, detainment, and displacement as they strive to offer Belarusian language literature to readers. In a statement, Andrej Januškevi? emphasized the importance of the Belarusian language in illuminating their culture and heritage. He expressed his intention to publish in the hopes of providing solace to Belarusian citizens and inspiration to those residing in exile.
The commitment of Januškevi? Publishing House to preserving cultural identity and promoting freedom of expression in the face of adversity has been recognized and lauded by the international publishing community through this prestigious award.
