{"id":195640,"date":"2026-07-14T14:11:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T11:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/195640\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T14:11:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T11:11:30","slug":"closure-of-belarusian-themed-shops-seen-as-manifestation-of-russification","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/195640\/","title":{"rendered":"Closure of Belarusian-themed shops seen as manifestation of Russification"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 14, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Ale\u015b Bialacki, head of the Viasna Human Rights Center, has described the closure of three prominent Belarusian-themed shops in Belarus as a manifestation of the government\u2019s Russification policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The apparel brands Honar and LSTR Adzie\u0144nie, as well as the souvenir shop Rahna, announced their closures in July without giving any reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Observers suspect that the shops were forced to close under pressure from the authorities. For example, LSTR Adzie\u0144nie unveiled a new collection just days before announcing its closure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human rights defenders received reports that the owner of one of the shops had been detained for questioning about \u201csocial media posts and contacts.\u201d The man was reportedly released but told to shut down his business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a new step to Russify Belarus, which has been carried out by the hands of Belarusian authorities,\u201d Bialacki said. \u201cOf course, this program to destroy everything Belarusian has continued for more than 200 years. This way, the regime shows its \u2026 full dependence on [Russia\u2019s] imperialistic narratives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged Belarusians to resist Russian assimilation in all possible ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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