Full List of Arsennieva Award Nominees Announced

The Belarusian PEN and the International Union of Belarusian Writers have announced the full list of books nominated for the Natallia Arsennieva Poetry Award for books of 2025, Bellit.info reports .

The jury reviewed all applications and compiled a full list, which includes 19 poetry books:

1. «2/3» — Feliks Aksiontsau (hochroth Minsk, 2025).
2. «Kabayn» — Mephedrone Biasecki, Nalyso Altankavich (Hnil) (Lysy cherup, 2025).
3. «And Silence Reigns in the Village» — Marta Damaūchanka (encrypted participation, 2025).
4. «Darkness Will Pass» — Biarvieta Irzvitskaya, Konrad Zhyvota (audiobook, audiobooks.by, 2025).
5. «Anatomy» — Artur Kamarouski (Skaryna Press, 2025).
6. «White River» — Leu Kapylski (encrypted participation, 2025).
7. «We» — Khvedar Krapiva (encrypted participation, 2025).
8. «Not-from-here Distance» — Ihar Kulikou (Yanushkevich, 2025).
9. «Chronicle of Emptiness Denial» — Illia Kulbitski (Skaryna Press, 2025).
10. «Fly, Fly, Shuriken» — Lusine (hochroth Minsk, 2025).
11. «The One Who Laughs» — Ilona Miadunka (encrypted participation, 2025).
12. «Independence Avenue» — Mikita Naidzionau (Yanushkevich, 2025).
13. «Jay» — Zakhar Sakovich (encrypted participation, 2025).
14. «Fall to No One's Queen» — Yafim Soyka (encrypted participation, 2025).
15. «Circulation» — Yulia Tsimafeeva (Yanushkevich, 2025).
16. «Ich zerschneide die Geschichte / I Cut History with Myself» — Yulia Tsimafeeva (Edition frölich, 2025).
17. «Tea Collection. Selected Post-Poetry 2007—2025» — Max Shchur (SayBeat, 2025).
18. «A Reliable Remedy for Ghosts» — Hanna Yankuta (hochroth Minsk, 2025).
19. «Śviata žyćcia» — Frydrych Samotny (hochroth Minsk, 2025).

According to the award's statute, authors may maintain anonymity for security reasons. In such cases, works participate in the competition without disclosing names and titles. Authorship will only be announced when it becomes safe.

Award Jury

This year, the jury consists of five voices, each with their own experience of reading and understanding poetry. Together, they must go from first impressions to thoughtful, careful re-reading to determine the poetry book of the year. Among the public members of the jury:

• Andrei Khadanovich — poet, translator, literary critic. Honorary Chairman of Belarusian PEN and a popularizer of Belarusian literature in Europe. Laureate of several literary awards, author of numerous poetry collections and translations from English, French, Polish, and Ukrainian.
• Darya Bialkevich — poetess, translator, songwriter, art manager. Laureate of the Natallia Arsennieva Award, editor of poetry books, host of the literary podcast «Spis na leta» (Summer List). Participant in international literary festivals and residencies.
• Vital Ryzhkou — poet, translator, organizer of literary projects. Laureate of the «Debut» and «Golden Apostrophe» awards, participant in international poetry forums.
• Nasta Kudasava — poetess, translator. Laureate of the Mikhas Straltsou Award, the Belarusian PEN «Book of the Year» Award, and other literary honors. Author of seven poetry books, participant in international literary projects.

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