Ippolitov Sergey S. — Doctor in Historical Sciences; the D. S. Likhachev Russian Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage, Chief Researcher; Russian State Academy of Intellectual Property, Professor; The State Research Institute for Restoration, leading specialist
E-mail: nivestnik@yandex.ru

ORCID 0000-0003-3564-4271

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the publishing system of the Republic of Belarus as a socio-communicative institution fulfilling the functions of cultural heritage accumulation, knowledge transmission, educational provision, and national identity representation. The relevance of the study is determined by the digital transformation of the media environment, shifting reading practices, intensifying geopolitical competition, and increasing information pressure on sovereign states — all of which highlight the urgent need to develop effective mechanisms for protecting the national cultural space. The paper examines the historical evolution of Belarusian book publishing — from the traditions originating in the activity of Francysk Skaryna in the 16th century, through the Soviet institutional model with its extensive network of state publishing houses, to the post-Soviet mixed system combining state and private structures while retaining a significant regulatory role of the state. Special attention is paid to the legal framework of the industry: key legislative acts are analyzed, including the special Law “On Publishing in the Republic of Belarus,” as well as the functions of the Ministry of Information and the National Book Chamber as institutional centers of state policy in this sphere. Based on empirical data, including statistics from the National Statistical Committee and the results of an analysis of literature lists recommended for library procurement in 2025, the linguistic structure of published materials is identified. A correlation is established between the share of publications in the Belarusian language (35.26%) and the actual linguistic practice of the population (26% of citizens use Belarusian at home), which is interpreted as a deliberate state policy aimed at preserving the national language amid information confrontation. The article also highlights the directions of Russian-Belarusian cooperation in the publishing sphere, including mutual exchange of literature, joint projects (textbooks on common history, publications on the Great Patriotic War), and the coordination of approaches to countering the dissemination of destructive content. It is concluded that the publishing industry of Belarus, while maintaining institutional stability and adapting to external challenges, remains a key instrument of sovereign cultural development and integration cooperation within the framework of the Union State. At the same time, the paper emphasizes the lack of comprehensive interdisciplinary research covering the systemic interrelation of structural, regulatory, and dynamic aspects of Belarusian book publishing.

Artificial intelligence, book publishing, integration processes, publishing in Belarus, sanctions pressure, scientific literature, sovereignty, state regulation, the book market, the Union State.