Report on the 12th International Congress of Belarusian Studies in Berlin

The XII International Congress of Belarusian Studies took place in Berlin from September 25–27, 2025, with the support of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

Key information and programme materials are available on the official Congress website (https://www.icbs.lt/en/berlin-2025).

The Congress traditionally brings together scholars and experts in the social sciences and humanities to discuss the history, politics, society, and culture of Belarus in the European and international context. Since 2011, the Congress has been the only platform in the world where such a significant number of Belarusian scholars and public figures can discuss topics related to Belarus freely and independently of the influence of the Belarusian and foreign authorities.

This year, over 500 speakers submitted applications, of which around 450 were approved. Around 300 scholars attended the Congress in person, while a further 115 joined online. The event was attended by over 120 guests (media and civil society representatives), as well as academics from Poland, Germany and Lithuania.

Over the course of the three-day Congress, 78 events dedicated to Belarusian science were held, attracting around 535 Belarusian and international participants.

The main objective of the Congress is to bring together Belarusian scientists and facilitate integration with their European colleagues. Thus, approximately 34 participants came to Humboldt-Universität directly from Belarus, while another 8 came from Ukraine. Their presence clearly demonstrates that the Congress, hosted by Humboldt-Universität, succeeded in creating a safe and collaborative space for open dialogue and academic exchange on matters relating to Belarus.

The 2025 International Congress of Belarusian Studies opened with speeches and plenary sessions featuring prominent representatives of the German, Belarusian, Lithuanian, and Polish expert communities, political and diplomatic sectors, and non-governmental organizations.

Congress participants were greeted by:

• Rūstis Kamuntavičius, Grand Duchy of Lithuania Institute, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania, Head of the Organizing Committee
• Prof. Dr. Susanne Frank, Head of the Department of East Slavic Literature and Culture at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Member of the Organizing Committee: Coordinator from the German side
• Gabriele Baumann, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Head of the Belarus Office
• Giedrius Mickūnas, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Lithuania in Germany
• Prof. Dr Hab. Jerzy Grzybowski, Chairperson of the Scientific Council, Institute of Central and East European Intercultural Studies, University of Warsaw

During the plenary debates, current topics of both political and scientific nature in Belarus were discussed:

Belarus on the European map. How the EU sees it now and what to expect in the near future?

• Moderator: Victoria Leukavets, Center for Baltic and East European Studies, Södertörn University
• Michael Nowak, Head of Division for Russia, Belarus and Regional Organisations CIS, CSTO, EAEU, Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office), Germany
• Prof. Dr. Gwendolyn Sasse, Scientific Director of ZOiS, Member of the Board of the DGO, Professorship for Comparative Democracy and Authoritarianism at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Mantas Jakimavičius, Director of the Eastern Neighbourhood Policy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania
• Prof. Mariusz Maszkiewicz, Cardinal Wyszynski University in Warsaw, editor-in-chief of the academic yearbook Free Belarus Journal, Polish diplomat, ambassador to Belarus 1998–2002 and Georgia 2016–2024

Belarusian Academic Community 2025: Status, Challenges and Opportunities

• Moderator: Hanna Radziejowska, Pilecki Institute
• Andrei Kazakevich, Academic Director of the Institute of Political Studies "Political Sphere"
• Philipp Schmädeke, Director of SCIENCE AT RISK Emergency Office, Chairman of the Academic Network Eastern Europe (akno e.V.) board
• Lina Gumbrevičienė, Senior Project Manager at the International Development Cooperation Unit at the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA)

The program included 13 scientific sections covering key areas of social and humanitarian disciplines:

• International Relations. Regional Security. Foreign Policy — 19 participants (6 online)
• Politics. Political Institutions — 5 participants (2 online)
• Society and Social Institutions — 25 participants (5 online)
• Media and Communication — 9 participants (10 online)
• Political Philosophy — 12 participants (6 online)
• Education and Science — 26 participants (8 online)
• History of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania — 29 participants (12 online)
• History of Belarus in the 19th–20th centuries — 40 participants (7 online)
• Philology — 52 participants (9 online)
• Historical and Cultural Heritage — 36 participants (15 online)
• Culture and Cultural Studies — 27 participants (9 online)
• Law — 6 participants (1 online)
• Economics — 8 participants (1 online)

In addition to the scientific sections, the Congress also featured over 20 public presentations and roundtable discussions devoted to the current state of the Belarusian academic sector and the integration of Belarusian science into the European and international community.

The evening of the second day of the event concluded with the traditional Awards Ceremony of the International Congress of Researchers Prize. The awards were presented to the authors of the best publications in the fields of history, sociology and the humanities in 2024 (More information and the winners: https://www.icbs.lt/en/post/congress-award-2025).

On the third and final day of the Congress, the results were summarised and discussed at the Closing Session in the presence of the section chairs and the most active participants. Future plans were presented, and it was announced that the next Congress will be held in Warsaw at the University of Warsaw in 2027.

The Congress is a multilingual platform. The working languages ​​are traditionally Belarusian, Ukrainian, English, Lithuanian, Polish, German, and Russian. The languages of each section were determined by their respective moderators.