German television has aired the documentary “Belarus – Geschäfte mit einer Diktatur?” (“Belarus – Doing Business with a Dictatorship?”), examining how European companies continue to do business with Belarus, directly or indirectly, despite the EU’s sanctions policy.

Speaking of prerequisites for change, we often focus on individuals and tend to underestimate the role of institutions. Global experience shows that a most relevant role in a peaceful transformation can be played by trade unions – but the real ones, not their simulacra.