On the night of October 29-30, 1937, Chekists executed over 100 prominent Belarusian figures in culture, art, science, and public life.
Among them were 22 writers, including Anatol Volny, Platon Halavach, Ales Dudar, Mikhas Zaretsky, Todar Klyashtorny, Moyshe Kulbak, Mikhas Charot, and many others. This horrific event, during which the authorities obliterated the representatives of the Belarusian revival of the 1920s, became known as “The Night of the Executed Poets.”
This tragic night was just one, though the most well-known, episode of the "Great Terror" orchestrated by the Bolsheviks throughout our land and the USSR. The exact toll of Stalin's repressions remains unknown. In the BSSR alone, the number of the repressed, including those sentenced to death or perished in exile or prison, reaches hundreds of thousands.
The gravest tragedy is that our country has yet to condemn the Soviet totalitarian system and its terror on a state level. Can we be surprised, then, that today the dictatorial regime in Belarus carries out mass repressions unprecedented in Europe in the 21st century?
Today, thousands of Belarusians once again walk the path of their forefathers — arrests, torture, imprisonment in horrific conditions. The only difference is that the new Chekists have not yet shot people in the back of the head.
However, they kill in other ways. As of today, at least six individuals are known to have died in custody due to torture and lack of medical care.
In the coming days, events dedicated to the Night of the Executed Poets will be held in various cities and countries.
27.10.
Vilnius. Kudirka Square, 12:00-14:00. The square will feature Belarusian performers' music set to the words of the executed poets and recitals of their works in Belarusian and Lithuanian.
Poznan. KUT Foundation, Kramarska St., 32. Starting at 15:00. A book club meeting in honor of the anniversary of the Night of the Executed Poets. Participants will remember the events of that time, discuss the works of three authors — Anatol Volny, Mikhas Zaretsky, and Lukash Kalyuga — and read the poets' verses.
Wroclaw. CUKR, Ruska St. 46A (2nd floor, #4 on the intercom). Beginning at 19:00. Participants will read poems, remember the horrific era of terror, and honor its victims.
Online. YouTube channel of the Belarusian Association of America. The association invites you to a theatrical lecture dedicated to the Night of Poets titled “Return from Hell.” Start time: 23:00 (Minsk and Vilnius), 22:00 (Warsaw), 17:00 (New York), 14:00 (San Francisco). Director and researcher Vasyl Dranko-Maisyuk and actress Alena Bayarova will share new insights, read little-known poems, and excerpts from short stories.
28.10.
Vilnius. Razam, Vilniaus g. 16. The premiere of the play My Mother in Prison will begin at 6:30 PM. Students from the Razam Theater School and professional actors will perform this play based on the book by Olga Velichka, From Two to Fifteen: My Mother in Prison, which includes children’s memories of repressions that affected their families, as well as the dreams, wishes, and stories they wrote to help them cope with trauma. Their experiences are compared with the stories of women and children repressed during Soviet times in the ALZHIR women’s camp. Register here.
29.10.
Batumi. Aksiarodak, Parnavaz Mepe, 62a. 7:30 PM. Memorial evening The Night of the (Un)executed Poets. There will be readings of the works of (un)executed poets.
Bialystok. Muzeum Pamięci Sybiru, ul. Węglowa 1. 6:00 PM. The “Volny Choir” and Belarusian actors will perform songs, poems, and stories about the fates of Belarusian writers executed or repressed.
Vilnius. Square near the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights (Aukų g. 2A). At 6:30 PM, a major memorial event “The Night of the [Un]executed Poets” will begin. To sign up to perform at the “Open Mic” session, register here.
New York. 6:00 PM. The exact location will be announced upon registration. Participants will gather to remember the names of the executed and read their works. Register here.
Prague. Božská Lahvice, Bílkova 122/6. 6:00 PM. Event “The Night of the (Un)executed Poets.” This evening will remember Belarusian poets who became victims of repression, exploring their life stories and reading their works.
Tallinn. Rahva Raamat, Viru Keskus III-IV floor. 6:00 PM. An event of Estonian Belarusians dedicated to the Night of the Executed Poets, featuring readings of the poetry of the deceased poets and musical performances.
Torun. Near the Copernicus Monument at 6:00 PM. Belarusians of Poland’s Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship invite everyone to a literary evening and a performance-meeting dedicated to the Night of the Executed Poets. Selected poems can be found here.
Admission is free for all events. Times are local unless otherwise specified.
Among them were 22 writers, including Anatol Volny, Platon Halavach, Ales Dudar, Mikhas Zaretsky, Todar Klyashtorny, Moyshe Kulbak, Mikhas Charot, and many others. This horrific event, during which the authorities obliterated the representatives of the Belarusian revival of the 1920s, became known as “The Night of the Executed Poets.”
This tragic night was just one, though the most well-known, episode of the "Great Terror" orchestrated by the Bolsheviks throughout our land and the USSR. The exact toll of Stalin's repressions remains unknown. In the BSSR alone, the number of the repressed, including those sentenced to death or perished in exile or prison, reaches hundreds of thousands.
The gravest tragedy is that our country has yet to condemn the Soviet totalitarian system and its terror on a state level. Can we be surprised, then, that today the dictatorial regime in Belarus carries out mass repressions unprecedented in Europe in the 21st century?
Today, thousands of Belarusians once again walk the path of their forefathers — arrests, torture, imprisonment in horrific conditions. The only difference is that the new Chekists have not yet shot people in the back of the head.
However, they kill in other ways. As of today, at least six individuals are known to have died in custody due to torture and lack of medical care.
In the coming days, events dedicated to the Night of the Executed Poets will be held in various cities and countries.
27.10.
Vilnius. Kudirka Square, 12:00-14:00. The square will feature Belarusian performers' music set to the words of the executed poets and recitals of their works in Belarusian and Lithuanian.
Poznan. KUT Foundation, Kramarska St., 32. Starting at 15:00. A book club meeting in honor of the anniversary of the Night of the Executed Poets. Participants will remember the events of that time, discuss the works of three authors — Anatol Volny, Mikhas Zaretsky, and Lukash Kalyuga — and read the poets' verses.
Wroclaw. CUKR, Ruska St. 46A (2nd floor, #4 on the intercom). Beginning at 19:00. Participants will read poems, remember the horrific era of terror, and honor its victims.
Online. YouTube channel of the Belarusian Association of America. The association invites you to a theatrical lecture dedicated to the Night of Poets titled “Return from Hell.” Start time: 23:00 (Minsk and Vilnius), 22:00 (Warsaw), 17:00 (New York), 14:00 (San Francisco). Director and researcher Vasyl Dranko-Maisyuk and actress Alena Bayarova will share new insights, read little-known poems, and excerpts from short stories.
28.10.
Vilnius. Razam, Vilniaus g. 16. The premiere of the play My Mother in Prison will begin at 6:30 PM. Students from the Razam Theater School and professional actors will perform this play based on the book by Olga Velichka, From Two to Fifteen: My Mother in Prison, which includes children’s memories of repressions that affected their families, as well as the dreams, wishes, and stories they wrote to help them cope with trauma. Their experiences are compared with the stories of women and children repressed during Soviet times in the ALZHIR women’s camp. Register here.
29.10.
Batumi. Aksiarodak, Parnavaz Mepe, 62a. 7:30 PM. Memorial evening The Night of the (Un)executed Poets. There will be readings of the works of (un)executed poets.
Bialystok. Muzeum Pamięci Sybiru, ul. Węglowa 1. 6:00 PM. The “Volny Choir” and Belarusian actors will perform songs, poems, and stories about the fates of Belarusian writers executed or repressed.
Vilnius. Square near the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights (Aukų g. 2A). At 6:30 PM, a major memorial event “The Night of the [Un]executed Poets” will begin. To sign up to perform at the “Open Mic” session, register here.
New York. 6:00 PM. The exact location will be announced upon registration. Participants will gather to remember the names of the executed and read their works. Register here.
Prague. Božská Lahvice, Bílkova 122/6. 6:00 PM. Event “The Night of the (Un)executed Poets.” This evening will remember Belarusian poets who became victims of repression, exploring their life stories and reading their works.
Tallinn. Rahva Raamat, Viru Keskus III-IV floor. 6:00 PM. An event of Estonian Belarusians dedicated to the Night of the Executed Poets, featuring readings of the poetry of the deceased poets and musical performances.
Torun. Near the Copernicus Monument at 6:00 PM. Belarusians of Poland’s Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship invite everyone to a literary evening and a performance-meeting dedicated to the Night of the Executed Poets. Selected poems can be found here.
Admission is free for all events. Times are local unless otherwise specified.
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