Historical Imagery and Mnemonic Constitutionalism in Belarus

Abstract The article examines the historical imagery in the Belarusian country study through the lense of mnemonic constitutionalism. The first part of the article explains the concept and relevance of mnemonic constitutionalism, particularly in the context of Belarus. It then further sketches comparative perspectives on mnemonic constitutionalism and memory laws in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, briefly drawing on Hungarian, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian examples. In the third part, the article unpacks the choices for historical imagery made by Belarusian memory politics and apparent in the constitutional referendum of 27 February 2022. The article further explains the rise of Belarusian memory laws and coercive mnemonic constitutionalism in Belarus prior to, and after, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, in the fourth part. The conclusions highlight the distinct features of the Belarusian model of mnemonic constitutionalism in Europe, shaped by dystopian historical imagery and authoritarian memory politics.