«Because the director signed for an alternative candidate». It became known why companies are forbidden from holding cultural events
36% of rejections are based on a letter from the KGB, Belpol found out.
In Grodno, intellectual and entertainment games planned for August were canceled. Now organizers must obtain permission for them from the local executive committee. And if an event falls under the category of cultural and entertainment, its organizer must be in the Ministry of Culture's register and have a touring certificate.
However, obtaining permission is not so simple. Belpol explains the wording of rejections that organizers usually receive.
The organization received a series of reports from the Ministry of Culture of Belarus to the Presidential Administration regarding the review of applications from organizers of cultural and entertainment events.
According to the provided document, as of February 20, 2023, the Ministry of Culture received 1437 applications from organizers of cultural and entertainment events. 992 applications were reviewed. 269 organizations received a refusal.
The justification for the refusals is as follows:
- 36% of refusals — according to point 1 of Article 81 of the Code on Culture, based on a letter from the KGB.
- 17.4% of refusals — due to the absence of an extract on the head's offenses.
- 13.7% of refusals — based on the fact that the head is a signatory for an alternative presidential candidate or a signatory of an open letter from cultural figures against the current government and for new elections.
- 14% of refusals — due to the "destructive" civic position of the leaders or the holding of cultural events with the participation of "destructively" minded actors.