Award-winning image of pagan culture Belarus/ Andrei Liankevich

Belarusian photographer Andrei Liankevich has won the Humanity Photo Award for his depiction of pagan traditions in Belarus. The photographer speaks to IMS about showing an unknown side to Belarus

Belarusian photographer Andrei Liankevich provides a rare window to Belarusian culture through his award-winning photo series about pagan traditions still alive in Belarus today. Andrei Liankevich is also a member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, one of IMS’ partner organisations in Belarus which works to support media.

In search of Belarusian identity

- With my photos, I have tried to answer questions about who we were and who we are now as Belarusians, says Andrei Liankevich from his home in Minsk.

- We have a big problem of self-understanding, self-identity in Belarus. Due to our history of living under foreign rule, our culture and traditions have been disappearing over the last 50 years. We need to capture and preserve what little is left of our culture and that is what I have tried to do with my photos.

Many of Andrei’s friends were surprised to learn about the pagan traditions of the countryside that came to light through his photos, One photo portrays the tradition of the prettiest girl in a village walking through the streets covered in maple tree branches and leaves collecting contributions for her upcoming married life.

A different side to Belarus

Andrei Liankevich aged 27, has achieved more than most photographers in their lifetime. His photos have been printed in the likes of The New York Times, Newsweek and Herald Tribune and now he is up for the Humanity Photo Award, a folklore photo contest, in the holiday category.

The fact that Andrei Liankevich lives and works in a restrictive media environment makes his achievements even more remarkable.

Commenting on his recent award, Andrei Liankevich says:

- When you spend more than a year producing photos with money out of your own pocket, the satisfaction of being recognized with an award is great! It is difficult work and what is especially important is the international attention that the photos attract.

- The photos give people an insight into Belarusian culture which is different to what people usually know about Belarus. What people usually hear about is often related to political manifestations and things like the diseases following Chernobyl.

Difficult working conditions

Andrei Liankevich concedes that working conditions are hard for photo journalists and the media in general in Belarus. The global economic crisis has not made things easier.

- The problem is also that there is no economic support for independent media, says Andrei Liankevich.

The narrow media market in Belarus and the lack of social and political magazines makes it difficult to make a living as a photographer with few outlets to sell ones pictures to. To support himself Andrei Liankevich himself works mainly for foreign news agencies such as the European Press Association.

See more of Andrei Liankevich’s photos here.

Andrei Liankevich will receive his Humanity Photo Award later this month in China. Humanity Photo Awards is the only worldwide folklore photo contest. 

Track-record of limited press freedom

Belarus has a track record of limited press freedom with Reporters Without Borders characterizing the situation as “very serious.” The Belarus Association of Journalists (BAJ), a partner of IMS in Belrus which works to support media and promote press freedom. According to BAJ March 2009 figures, eleven registered and independent newspapers remain banned from the state distribution network.