Detainee Maxim Snak, aged 44, has been held in isolation for approximately two and a half years.

In a disturbing turn of events, Belarusian writer Maxim Znak continues to be held in Correctional Colony No. 3 in Vitebsk, having been arrested on September 9, 2020, and sentenced to 10 years in prison on three charges, including "conspiracy to seize power."

Znak's relative has expressed concern for his well-being, hoping that he is in good health. However, since February 2023, Znak has been in a communication blackout, with no responses received for the past three years.

Maxim Znak's book, "Zekameron," was published in 2022 and has since received recognition as one of the most moving and powerful examples of prison literature. The book has been translated into Danish, English, German, and Swedish, with some of Znak's short stories and poems also published and translated into multiple languages.

In 2025, Zekameron was awarded the prestigious "Disturbance of the Peace" prize by the Vaclav Havel Center in New York, an award given to brave writers in danger. Bill Shipsey, a human rights activist and member of the Vaclav Havel Center's Board of Directors, noted that "Zekameron is one of the most moving and powerful examples of prison literature."

A play based on Zekameron was staged in Warsaw by actors from the exiled Kupalovsky Theatre in 2022. However, no new information about Znak publishing new works or plays based on his book was provided. Similarly, no new information about Znak receiving any new awards or recognitions was available.

According to a former prisoner who was released from Colony Vitebsk-3 in June 2025, Znak is "still in a cell-type room and in the SHIZO." Latvian citizen Dmitrijs Mihailovs, who spoke to Freedom, said he hadn't seen Znak in the colony.

Maxim Znak did not admit his guilt, and Belarusian human rights activists recognized him as a political prisoner. The "Disturbance of the Peace" prize, awarded to Znak in 2025 by the organization "Störung des Friedens," serves as a testament to the global recognition of his bravery and the impact of his work.

As Znak continues to serve his sentence, the international community remains hopeful for his release and a resumption of communication. The power and poignancy of Zekameron serve as a reminder of the importance of free speech and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.