Belarusian Voices duo splits after bitter feud over music and money
A bitter dispute has erupted between two former members of the Belarusian choir group Belarusian Voices. Valeryia Yaskevich and Hanna Navitskaya, once close collaborators, now find themselves in a public conflict over creative control, finances, and the future of their shared music. The falling-out has led Yaskevich to delete all their joint tracks in an attempt to sever ties completely.
The two artists began working together years ago, with Navitskaya playing a key role in Yaskevich's early career. She helped her enrol at the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts, managed her projects, and funded over $20,000 of promotion before any steady income came in. Navitskaya also handled logistics—photoshoots, concerts, tours—and pushed for original songwriting, with both credited as equal co-authors.
When Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the pair were forced into exile—Navitskaya in Ukraine, Yaskevich in Germany. Despite the distance, they continued collaborating remotely, releasing albums like Voices of Freedom in 2023 and performing in online concerts. Visa troubles and safety concerns, however, made live appearances together nearly impossible.
The relationship soured when Yaskevich proposed a new working arrangement: she wanted full earnings upfront and complete control over management. Navitskaya resisted, offering mediation and a formal contract to clarify terms. Yaskevich refused both. She later criticised Navitskaya's portrayal of their partnership as a 'rags-to-riches' story, insisting she had already built a following before they met. Navitskaya, in turn, posted a video defending her actions and opposing the removal of songs recorded before 2024.
Yaskevich has since deleted all their joint tracks, saying it was the only way to break free. She claimed the friendship could only survive if she remained financially dependent—a dynamic she no longer wanted.
The split leaves their collaborative work in limbo, with Navitskaya opposing the deletion of earlier songs. Yaskevich's decision to erase the tracks marks a definitive end to their professional and personal ties. The dispute also raises questions about ownership and creative partnerships in music, particularly for artists working under the pressures of exile and political instability.
