April 19 | Salidarnast.info

News and Opinions

The 2025 "Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights” is awarded to Aliaksandr Yarashuk

On April 16, 2025, it was announced that the prestigious Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights has been awarded this year to Aliaksandr Yarashuk — Chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and a member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Apr 17, 20252 min read

Trade Unions in Belarus in Exile – The Struggle Continues Despite the Regime’s Iron Grip

In the shadow of the war in Ukraine, repression in Belarus has intensified. Trade union activists have become prime targets. Many have been imprisoned, while others have been forced to continue their work from exile. But even four years after all trade union organizations were banned, the determination to change Europe’s last dictatorship remains as strong as ever.

Apr 17, 20254 min read

A Stairway to Heaven: the story of Siarhei Shelest

…At the end of September 2020, the white-red-white flag appeared flying at the top of the TV tower in Hrodna. Of course, the authorities

Apr 9, 20254 min read

“I’ve defended what I believe in”: fate of political prisoner Aliaksandr Kashpul

Today, there are 29 union leaders and activists doing time in Belarusian prisons and penal colonies.”Salidarnast” continues its cycle of pub

Apr 2, 20254 min read

Vatslau Areshka, a man with a spine

In January this year, the political prisoner, renowned union activists turned 70.

Mar 27, 20253 min read

Exiled and imprisoned, Belarusian trade unionists fight on

Adapted from a talk given at the “Labour Movements Under Authoritarian Regimes” webinar hosted by Global Labour Column, Salidarnast e.V.,

Mar 17, 20255 min read

The campaign "Trade Union Activism Is Not Extremism!"

On March 1, 2025, the international campaign "Trade Union Activism Is Not Extremism!"

Mar 10, 20251 min read

Sign the petition to support independent trade unions in Belarus

The LabourStart platform has started collecting signatures under the petition as part of the “Trade Union Activism - Not Extremism!” campaig

Mar 10, 20251 min read

Contract work — a tool for pressure and discrimination in Belarus

Leanid Sudalenka, the Salidarnast lawyer, is convinced that then system of fixed-term contract employment in Belarus contradicts at least

Mar 10, 20254 min read

PERC Youth Committee calls for release of Belarusian unionists

On March 3–4, 2025, the ITUC Headquarters hosted an ordinary meeting of the Youth Committee of the Pan-European Regional Council (PERC).

Mar 10, 20251 min read

When fighting for rights is seen as crime: what charges did Yarashuk face

These days, the Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) holds its meeting in Geneva.

Mar 10, 20256 min read

Siarhei Antusevich: “In jail and after jail political prisoners are non-persons for the State”

Vice-President of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) Siarhei Antusevich has shared with “Salidarnast” a story of livi

Mar 4, 202513 min read

Volha Brytsikava: Why a union leader was declared “terrorist”

Currently, there are 29 union leaders and activists doing time in Belarusian prisons. The “Salidarnast” Association starts a series of publi

Feb 27, 20256 min read