The Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) reacted to the decision of the Supreme Court of Belarus, which on March 24 rejected appeals from three trade union leaders sentenced to a total of seven and a half years in prison for participating in pro-democracy protests.
The ETUC called the court's decision a "travesty of justice" as the Supreme Court ruled in absentia without even requiring the presence of the convicted trade union activists.
Recall that Aliaksandr Yarashuk, Siarhei Antusevich and Iryna But-Husaim are among more than 30 trade union leaders detained during the suppression of the activities of independent trade unions, as a result of which the BKDP and four affiliated trade unions were disbanded because they defended the democratic rights, freedoms and interests of workers.
ETUC Secretary General Esther Lynch said:
"Trade union activists in Belarus are at the forefront of the fight for democracy and human rights - they need our full support".
“We cannot accept the fact that independent trade unions are being destroyed, and trade union activists are branded extremists and sent to prison for actions in support of democracy and the interests of their members and the entire labor collective. Trade union movement is not a crime".
“We need something more than just a strong EU statement on this matter. It must take all possible steps to ensure that the Belarusian authorities immediately and unconditionally release imprisoned trade union activists and stop persecution and repression against independent trade unions and individuals exercising their human rights.” .
"Many trade unionists have been forced to leave the country as a result of persecution by the regime. We must support them in our countries as well."
Comments