Lukashenko Destroys the Theatre
- Pavel Latushka
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
Pavel Latushka on how Lukashenko bankrupted the Ministry of Culture
Recently, in early March, a new artistic director was appointed to the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre — Dmitry Akimov. He is a citizen of Russia, who previously worked as chief director at a number of Russian provincial theatres. This appointment resembles a forced measure: over all these years, the system has failed to find a single authoritative Belarusian director within the country who would agree to head the main theatrical stage of the nation.
Lukashenko's Ministry of Culture was compelled to import artistic leadership from the Russian provinces. The appointment to this position of a person who does not speak the Belarusian language and is detached from national identity is an act of unconditional capitulation and a genuine crime against culture.
The imported artistic director has already managed to outline his mission. He stated that he wants to understand what the theatre should be, including in terms of "socio-political indicators". Not to seek artistic meaning. Not to develop national dramaturgy and the Belarusian language. But to fulfil socio-political indicators. The Kupala Theatre has de facto been reduced to the status of a housing maintenance office of culture — a factory for the production of ideological conformity and loyalty.
Perhaps this is a one-off personnel mistake? No — this is a systemic collapse in the sphere of culture, a consistent policy of destroying the theatre. Since the events of 2020, no fewer than a dozen casting processes have taken place, yet it has never been possible to assemble a fully-fledged company. Into a theatre where theatrical dynasties once served, they now recruit random people, inexperienced students, and actors from Russia who do not even speak the Belarusian language.
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