Maksim Pazniakou, Deputy Chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, took part in a conference of the Fédération générale du travail de Belgique (FGTB), where he spoke about the situation of workers and the independent trade union movement in Belarus.

Belarusian trade union leader Aliaksandr Yarashuk is currently in Norway, where he is taking part in the ceremony for the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights. Last year, the prize was awarded to Yarashuk himself, when he was still imprisoned in Belarus.

5 June, 2026On 4 June 2026, trade union activists and delegates at the 114th ILC gathered in front of UN Palace of Nations near the Broken Chair monument in Geneva, demanding the immediate release of imprisoned Belarusian trade unionists. Among them was Aliaksandr Yarashuk, BKDP president, free after three and a half years in prison.

On 7 June, the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) received the George Meany–Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award. This award is one of the most prestigious international trade union honours.

Two more international organisations have joined the joint statement on the systemic human rights crisis in the labour sphere in Belarus — the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

Today in Geneva, at the Broken Chair monument, an international solidarity action was held in support of Belarusian trade union political prisoners. Despite the pouring rain, dozens of trade union leaders and activists from different countries gathered to support those who remain behind bars in Belarus for defending workers’ rights and freedom of association.

Two more international organisations have joined the joint statement on the systemic human rights crisis in the labour sphere in Belarus — the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

Belarusian and international human rights organisations, independent trade unions, and civil society initiatives have issued a joint statement on the systemic crisis of human rights in the labour sector in Belarus.

At the 54th Congress of the CGT, taking place in Tours from 1 to 5 June, the Belarusian independent trade union movement is represented by BKDP Deputy Chair Siarhei Antusevich.

At the presentation in Geneva of the 2026 Global Rights Index, prepared by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Maksim Pazniakou, Deputy Chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), spoke on behalf of the organisation.

On 25 May, an international conference entitled “Workers’ rights are human rights. ILO mechanism Article 33 to bring back freedom of association to Belarus” was held in Berlin, organised by the Salidarnast e.V. and the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP).

During the 23rd Federal Congress of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in Berlin, Aliaksandr Yarashuk, Chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, and Lizaveta Merliak, Executive Director of Salidarnast e.V., met with representatives of the Iranian Labour Confederation - Abroad (ILC).

From 10 to 13 May, Berlin is hosting the 23rd Ordinary Federal Congress of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) under the slogan “Together we are stronger: good jobs, a strong economy, social protection.” Among the invited guests are Aliaksandr Yarashuk, Chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), and Lizaveta Merliak, Executive Director of Salidarnast e.V.

Gazetaby concludes its series of publications (please find parts one and two here) devoted to a study that became a response to an article published by one of the state-run media outlets under the rather pompous title “Belarusian Healthcare System Secures Its Human Resources, Strengthens Its Infrastructural and Technological Foundation, Expands Exports, and Goes Digital.”

On 1 May, representatives of the Belarusian trade union movement united within BKDP took part in the rally marking the International Workers’ Day of Solidarity, held in Bremen and organised by DGB Bremen.

On March 21, during a visit to Vienna, Aliaksandr Yarashuk, President of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), met with Korinna Schumann, Austria’s Minister of Labour.

On April 19, 2022, many Belarusian independent unions’ leaders and activists were arrested. The date became a milestone in the history of the massive repressions in the country. We share with you why the regime fears union activists more than it may seem.

It has become known that yet another member of the independent trade union movement in Belarus has fallen victim to political persecution. Viktar Haŭrylavec, a member of the Belarusian Free Trade Union, was convicted under the charge of so-called “facilitating extremist activity”.

A group of Belarusian physicians from the independent healthcare workers’ union has conducted a study of the state of the country’s healthcare system.

Deputy Chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) Maksim Pazniakou took part in the 39th Panhellenic Congress of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE), held on 16–18 April 2026 in Heraklion. During the international event on collective bargaining and social dialogue, he raised the issue of the continuing repression of workers and independent trade unions in Belarus.