The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has awarded the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) the George Meany–Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award. This was announced in an official AFL-CIO statement.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Alena Yaskova—the National Legal Adviser of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), one of the founders of BKDP’s women’s direction, and a person of exceptional professional integrity and human dignity.

As noted on the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) website, the EESC’s External Relations Section (REX) held a debate on 23 February 2026 to address the alarming deterioration of trade union freedoms in Belarus.

Belarusian independent trade unions express solidarity with the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) and the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM), who have issued a joint statement titled “Responsible Exit Is the Only Responsible Choice in Myanmar’s War Economy.”

A new case of criminal prosecution against a trade union activist has been reported. Ruslan Badamshyn, an activist of the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB) and a member of the "Panacea" union of healthcare workers, has been recognised as a political prisoner and sentenced to two years and six months of imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony.

In an interview with ACTRAV INFO on trade union resilience amid growing global instability, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary Luc Triangle highlighted the release of Aliaksandr Yarashuk, Chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), as one of the most significant achievements of the international trade union movement in 2025.

On 13–15 February 2026, the Belarusian diaspora gathering “Workshop of the Future” took place in Germany, bringing together representatives of various initiatives and sectors, including human rights organizations, media, cultural initiatives, IT communities, and trade unions. Salidarnast e.V. was represented at the event by Maryia Taradzetskaya and Sviatlana Ushchapouskaya.

The Salidarnast Association held an international conference “Belarus: Trade Union Actions under Article 33” in Bremen, Germany.

On 30–31 January, Bremen hosted an international trade union conference, held there for the fourth time and traditionally bringing together friends and allies of the independent Belarusian trade unions. This year, the event gathered trade union leaders and representatives of international and national unions from Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.

Today in Vilnius, a meeting took place between IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary Atle Høie and and Assistant General Secretary Kemal Özkan with Belarusian trade union leaders – Henadz Fiadynich, longtime head of the Belarusian Radio and Electronics Industry Workers’ Union (REP), which is part of IndustriALL, and Aliaksandr Yarashuk, Chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP).

Yesterday, when new information and footage appeared showing Ukrainian buses, I caught myself experiencing a strange clarity. Perhaps, for the first time since the first similar release of political prisoners, everything seemed to fall into place.

Today, December 13, it was announced that 123 political prisoners were released in Belarus. Among those released are Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, former banker Viktar Babaryka, Maryia Kalesnikava, Maksim Znak, Pavel Seviarynets, TUT.BY editor-in-chief Marina Zolatava, political scientist Alexander Feduta, human rights activist Uladzimir Labkovich, Alena Hnauk, and others.

On December 6, at the Bremen Trade Union House, Salidarnast e.V. held an event as part of the international campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.” Participants included activists from Belarusian independent trade unions and their families, as well as guests from various cities – Bremen, Warsaw, Frankfurt am Main, and Hanover.

A session of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Governing Body concluded its work in Geneva; the GB discussed the situation in Belarus, among other things.

On the Day of Political Prisoners, which is marked annually on October 30, member of the German Bundestag Helge Limburg once again addressed a letter to his political godson – Andrei Paheryla, a repairman at JSC “Grodno Azot” and member of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union, imprisoned in the “Rabochy Rukh” case.

Michelle O’Neil, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), met with the leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, during her visit to Australia. She shared news of the meeting on her Instagram page, describing Tsikhanouskaya as “an inspiring and fearless voice for a free and democratic Belarus.”

Today, Volha Brytsikava, head of the work council of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union of JSK "Naftan" (largest and most important oil refineries in Belarus), is spending her birthday in captivity.

During the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus Nils Muižnieks presented his report on labour rights violations in our country.

Former chairman of the independent Radio and Electronics Industry Workers’ Union (REP), Hennadz Fiadynich, was released from Babruysk Penal Colony No. 2 a month and a half ago. He, along with other political prisoners, was taken to Lithuania. In a conversation with Radio Free Europe, he says that he "still doesn't feel much joy," as he has many concerns.

The Acting President of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) Maksim Pazniakau and Lizaveta Merliak, a representative of the Salidarnast Association e.V., took part in the Congress of the German Mining, Chemical, and Energy Workers’ Union IG BCE which took place in Germany.