Swedish associations of trade unions, which unite more than 4 million workers, appealed to the Ambassador of Belarus to Sweden Dmitry Mironchik. In a letter, the leaders of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO), the Swedish Confederation of Professional Workers (TCO) and the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (Saco) demanded the immediate release of all imprisoned trade union leaders and defenders of democracy in Belarus.
Dear Mr Dmitry Mironchik,
On behalf of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO), the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO) and the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (Saco), which together represent more than 4 million workers in Sweden, we urge you to take action for the release of all imprisoned trade union leaders and democracy advocates in Belarus.
As you can recall, we have in several letters to you stressed our grave concerns over the continuing growing pressure against the independent unions in Belarus and called on your government to stop intimidation and harassment, including judicial harassment of trade union leaders and members. Regrettably, we cannot observe any improvements in those matters.
On December 20th, BKDP President Aliaksandr Yarashuk, BKDP Vice-President Siarhei Antusevich and BKDP media officer Iryna But-Husaim are to be put on trial in Minsk, without having been guilty of anything else but fighting for better working conditions, free and independent trade unions and democracy.
We call on you to demand that your government should immediately release all imprisoned trade union leaders and democracy advocates in Belarus and stop the systematic violation of trade union rights.
We stand in solidarity with the BKDP and all independent unions.
Yours faithfully,
Susanna Gideonsson
President LO
Therese Svanström
President TCO
Göran Arrius
President Saco