Januškevič Publishing House, a Belarusian publisher now operating from Poland, has successfully obtained the rights to publish J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series in Belarusian.
previously, the copyright holders had declined to grant the translation rights on the grounds of international sanctions on Belarus, and of Rowling’s own views on the matter. However, after lengthy negotiations and advocacy efforts, Januškevič Publishing managed to convince stakeholders of the cultural significance of making the series available in Belarusian.
“This accomplishment was made possible thanks to colleagues’ and friends’ commitment to overcoming barriers and reinforcing the importance of preserving the Belarusian culture, especially under conditions of oppression,” the publisher said.
Even as he secured the rights to the books, however, the deal includes tight restrictions: the books cannot be sold in either Belarus or Russia, nor can they be sent by mail to Belarus. The publisher thanked the activist and poet Tatsiana Nyadbay, the Belarusian PEN Center, English PEN, and PEN International for their vital help during the negotiations.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will soon be released in Belarusian. The translation was completed by Alyona Pyatrovych, edited by Natalia Davydovska, and features illustrations by Brian Selznick, adapted by Krystyna Ivantsova.