Lohvinau publisher not allowed participating in Minsk Book Fair

Minsk International Book Fair will take place on February 11-15 in BelExpo pavilion.

However, the most talked-about publisher of Belarus will not be among its participants.

Rumours are that Lohvinau Literary House would not be presented at the Fair, at which publishing houses from 28 countries of the world are to be presented, Nasha Niva newspaper was told by the founder of the Literary House, Ihar Lohvinau.

As said by him, the publishing house was not even allowed filling in the application form for participation in the fair.

“Makbel Limited liability company is responsible for organizing. We addressed its director, and he said that he would not provide us with premises, as there is an order of the Information Ministry to close the doors of the book fair to us,” Lohvinau said.

On February 10 the Supreme Court upheld the ruling according to which Lohvinau was to pay a fine of 5.4 million rubles, and revenues of his enterprise in 2014, which is more than 960 million rubles, was to be confiscated. The book store had been working without a licence of the Information Ministry. Lohvinau applied for it 6 times, but it was denied to him every time for different reasons.

At the moment the book shop continues its work, it is registered by a new legal entity, and received a licence of the Information Ministry.

In the nearest future Lohvinau publisher is to take part in book fairs in Vilnius (starts on February 19) and in Leipzig (starts on March 14).

“And we do not do well in Minsk,” Lohvinau is laughing.