Belarusian political prisoner and activist of the independent REP trade union Vatslau Areshka has become completely blind. This was reported by a relative of the political prisoner who has been informed about his condition in the penal colony.

Uladzimir Habrau, founder of the pro-Russian militarist club Skif, works as a specialist in ideological work, social and youth policy at the Rechytsa Department of Technological Transport, which is part of PA Belorusneft. According to Flagshtok, he has held the position since at least September 2025.

Belarusian Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakou has said that workplaces should become one of the priority areas for the security forces’ “preventive” work. He made the statement on 23 September during Interior Ministry command-and-staff exercises in the Homiel region.

The pro-government Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FPB), already firmly integrated into the state system, is increasingly turning into an ideological structure far removed from its original purpose. It is no longer even making much effort to conceal this formally. Siarhei Antusevich, Deputy Chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), comments on the FPB’s growing activity on the ideological front.

The international trade union platform LabourStart has launched a global campaign calling for the immediate release of Hong Kong trade union leader Lee Cheuk-yan and activist Chow Hang-tung. The campaign began on 11 September together with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), Education International (EI), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Hong Kong Labour Rights Monitor.

An event dedicated to political repression in Belarus, imprisoned trade union activists and the role of international solidarity was held in Hanover. The meeting was organised by the German trade union IG BCE and Salidarnast e.V.

On 1 September, three employees of the Kalinkavichyvodokanal branch died in Kalinkavichy, Belarus: a 44-year-old site manager and two fitters aged 43 and 37.

According to the official Telegram channel of Belaruskali, a mining foreman, Dzmitry Piatrovich, was injured at Mine No. 2 while inspecting longwall workings after a roof fall. He later died in hospital.

The 71-year-old activist of Belarus’s independent trade union movement, like many of his colleagues, was detained on 19 April 2022. Nine months later, he was convicted under three articles of the Criminal Code and sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment in a high-security penal colony. During his time behind bars, Vatslau Areshka’s eyesight has deteriorated severely: alongside other health problems, he has now almost completely lost his sight.

Lukashenka has decided to use the army as a tool of punishment for failures in agriculture. After instructing the authorities to send “negligent” participants in the harvest campaign to serve as ordinary soldiers on the southern border, Defence Minister Viktar Khrenin reported on how his ministry intended to carry out the order. Siarhei Antusevich, Deputy Chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), described the initiative as absurd.

On 17 June in Brussels, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Seamus Boland. During the meeting, the sides discussed the situation in Belarus and support for civil society. Particular attention was given to the state of the trade union movement in Belarus.

On June 11, the most important event for football fans began – the World Cup. FIFA expects the 2026 World Cup to become the most lucrative in history, generating around 13 billion dollars in income. However, this year’s tournament has also been accompanied by significant criticism, primarily due to the fact that it is being held, among other places, in the United States.

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.

On 6 June in Geneva, during the 114th session of the International Labour Conference, a special meeting on Belarus was held within the Committee on the Application of Standards, concerning the government’s implementation of ILO recommendations in connection with the application of Article 33 of the ILO Constitution.

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.

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.