MINSK, Belarus— Belarus’ crippled political opposition has been cautious in its criticisms ahead of Sunday’s presidential election. Not so the country’s underground artists.
Dissident actors, musicians and painters live a shadowy existence in the former Soviet republic, their works seen only in unadvertised performances and invitation-only showings. Still, they have continued to risk jail and press ahead with trenchant views on the two-decade tenure of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Lukashenko, who critics call Europe’s last dictator, is sure to win re-election to the post he’s held since 1994. He has shown signs of seeking rapprochement with the West — to counter Moscow’s looming presence and gain access to Western markets to bolster the country’s ailing economy — but artists in Belarus are unlikely to see state pressure on them easing anytime soon.
The state has forbidden many groups from performing altogether and keeps tabs on artists’ whereabouts. Some performances are allowed, but only if they don’t attract much attention.
The 10-year-old Belarus Free Theater troupe has gained much attention abroad for productions examining taboo topics including homosexuality and political opposition, appearing at the renowned Edinburgh Fringe festival.
At home, however, its performances are advertised only by word of mouth. Its directors fled to Britain after a crackdown on the Belarus opposition following the 2010 presidential election. Rehearsals are now conducted via Skype.
