Books unite nations

A reliable communication channel between generations and eras: Minsk became the book capital of the EAEU for five days

The traditional and long-awaited spring event has taken place — the 32nd Minsk International Book Fair conducted its five-day work. More than 20 countries, over five hundred exhibitors, presentations, promotions and meetings with writers — each day of the exhibition was filled with fresh news, encounters and impressions. For the first time, the central exhibitor was collective — the EAEU member states including Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia showcased their literary achievements. Moreover, for the first time, the Book Train project arrived in Minsk from St. Petersburg with over 50 famous writers. Creative meetings, autograph sessions, TikTok filming masterclasses — all this and much more was reflected in the book marathon programme.

Our President publication was the most purchased at book fair            Aleksandr Kushner 

PRESIDENT'S GREETING

The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, sent a greeting to the participants of the 32nd Minsk International Book Fair and the 11th International Writer and Time Symposium of Writers . 
“Being a unique event in the social, cultural and spiritual life of Belarus, the Minsk Book Fair has a high international status and attracts the attention of thousands of people every year,” the greeting stated. The President emphasised that at all times, the book has been and remains the main source of knowledge, part of the intellectual heritage of ancestors, and today — in the age of information technology — it contributes to strengthening the unity of the people and serves to foster the best moral qualities in young people, “I am convinced that traditional meetings of writers and book lovers open new horizons for humanitarian co-operation, bringing countries and peoples closer together.”  

Treasury of culture

At the opening of the exhibition-fair, Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Vladimir Pertsov read out the President’s greeting, expressing his firm conviction, “The book in our time is a reliable communication channel between generations and eras. It carries knowledge, culture, and images of past generations and eras. When we need trustworthy information, we go and search for a particular old book in the library to see what it was really like.”

This year, the book exhibition has become the largest in the history of its existence — 76,000 people attended it. This is an absolute record! 

The organisers decided to create a separate, consolidated stand for all member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), so that all five countries could acquaint visitors to the exhibition with their literary traditions. Each of the central exhibitors was assigned with a separate day of the fair, where truly unique books were presented to visitors. Thus, on the opening day, Kazakhstan unveiled its best publications. A large literary meeting took place, where readers were introduced to the book 1941. Brest Fortress. Kazakhstan by Laila Akhmetova. The publication tells the story of the fate of each defender of the Brest Fortress who hailed from that country. The work on the book took seven years. The publication became a hymn to the heroism of the Soviet soldier.
For the first time, the forum featured collective regional booths of publishing houses, printing houses, libraries, and regional branches of the Writers’ Union of Belarus. Business literature, fiction, children’s literature… It was simply impossible to leave empty-handed.
Acute topics of the modern literary process, common ground, and prospects for co-operation were discussed at the Writer and Time International Symposium of Writers. 

Participants of 32nd Minsk International Book Fair from India              Aleksandr Kushner

Across countries and continents

  Visitors to the exhibition could also wander through International Quarter. Hundreds of books from 21 countries — from Latin America to Asia — were showcased here, and over 60 countries have participated in the project over the years. The expositions of the participating countries — organised by embassies of the states in Belarus — attracted guests not only with colourful printed materials, but also with authentic design highlighting cultural traditions. There were both regular participants and newcomers.
Visitors to the fair were able to learn something new about Pakistan for the fifth year running. Notably, the United Arab Emirates, popular with Belarusian tourists, presented its culture at the exhibition for the first time. The atmospheric UAE pavilion showcased the best collectible gift editions. The weighty tome Sheikh Zayed Mosque, which tells about the architecture of Abu Dhabi’s main attraction, was hugely popular at the book forum.
The Turkish pavilion at the book fair became one of the most visited. Among the books about sights, many visitors were drawn to the publication about Cappadocia, which is known worldwide for its otherworldly landscapes.
The Cubans brought tourist publications, guidebooks with attractions and books by classic authors to Belarus.
The book forum grows in scale every year, demonstrating to the world the extraordinary hospitality of Belarus, its enormous cultural potential and its ability to unite talented people from a wide variety of countries.

Trends and highlights

The organisers of the book fair focused on literature that will remain relevant for decades to come. The book Symbols of Sovereign Belarus, for example, contains QR codes that, when scanned, allows you to take a virtual journey to the Belovezhskaya Pushcha, see how flax grows in Belarusian fields, how one of our national treasures — the Slutsk sash — is made, as well as to visit the Memorial Church in honour of All Saints in Minsk.
The book fair also featured Our President publication that has already gained popularity. This is a documentary biography that reflects the life and career path of the Head of State. It includes statements, quotes, photographs and archival documents — everything that will be of interest to a wide range of readers.

Preserving what is precious

One of the key themes at the book fair was the 80th anniversary of the Soviet people’s Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Belarusian and international authors presented works of fiction and historical research about the events of those years. Everyone was able to purchase books by front-line writers. Educational Quarter supported the theme: visitors were offered an interactive activity called Letter to the Past, where everyone who wanted could write a message to the heroes. There was a masterclass called Frontline Triangle, where people were taught how to fold a letter as it was done at the front.

Book Train with surprises

An unforgettable creative celebration was gifted to guests on Russia Day. The Book Train project from various regions of Russia brought more than 50 writers, publicists, and poets. Guests from Russia interacted with fans not only at the BelExpo exhibition complex, where the exhibition-fair took place, but also at the Yanka Kupala Central Library, the Belarusian State University, the National Library of Belarus, and in children’s libraries.
This year, the route became international: Minsk — Moscow — Nizhny Novgorod — Kazan — Ulyanovsk — Volgograd. The train stopped for one day in each city, where meetings with the best contemporary authors took place. In Minsk, for example, popular science fiction writers Sergei Lukyanenko and Dmitry Yemets, author of popular young adult novels Asya Lavrinovich, and prose writers Valery Popov and Oleg Roy performed.

Aleksandr Kushner

Presentation of books by journalists from Belarus Segodnya Publishing House at book fair has become tradition 

Thus, columnist Andrei Mukovozchik presented his publication Revolution of Wet Trousers at the exhibition in 2021. In 2024, the book The Taste of Colour Revolutions (authors Sergei Musiyenko and Maksim Osipov) — prepared by the EcooM Analytical Centre in conjunction with the Belarus Segodnya Publishing House — received the highest award in the Art of Book contest in the Triumph category, the Golden Folio badge of honour, and the Francysk Skaryna honorary diploma. In the LIT-Format nomination, Andrei Mukovozchik was awarded a first-degree diploma for his books What to Teach Children? and What to Teach Adults?, which were published by the Belarus Publishing House. In 2024, Andrei Mukovozchik also hosted two book premieres: the publications The Agitator’s Notebook and Fugitive and Funny. This year, two highest awards of the Art of Book contest in the special nomination Belarus Remembers were given to the Belarus Segodnya Publishing House and the Belarus Publishing House for the book Partisans of Belarus by Oleg Usachev. In the nomination For Contribution to Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage, the first place was awarded to the book We Know Them, We are Proud of Them! Famous People of Belarus in Portraits and Essays by Irina Ovsepyan. Lyudmila Gladkaya’s book Lessons of Donbass: Special Report was also awarded first place in the Strength in Truth and Unity nomination.

DATA CONFIRM

Belarusians refute the common misconception that people are allegedly reading less and less. Sociological studies show: 70 percent of citizens of our country pick up a book at least several times a week, and 80 percent — specifically a paper book. This fact fully explains the popularity of the International Book Fair, which has been held in Minsk for over 30 years already.

Based on materials of sb.by