“Volha is so steadfast in her beliefs that she naturally draws people in”

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.

Volha was detained in August 2023 and tried under Article 130 of the Criminal Code (inciting racial, national, religious, or other social hatred or discord). She was sentenced to three years in prison and added to the list of individuals “involved in extremist activities.”

In August 2024, she faced additional charges and received another three years in a penal colony. After an appeal to the Supreme Court, her second sentence was reduced by one year. In January 2025, the KGB added Brytsikava to its “terrorist list.”

“Volha always sought justice and legality,” say those who know her well. That’s why, in August 2020, she met with the company’s leadership and voiced workers’ demands to the administration and authorities: an end to violence, the resignation of Alexander Lukashenko and Central Election Commission head Lidia Yermoshina.

Later, Brytsikava joined a spontaneous workers’ rally near the plant’s administration building. At the time, she was still free and told Gazetaby in an interview that she didn’t regret her actions or leaving the yellow “Naftan” trade union, which she, like many others, considered a mere formality. A few months later, Volha was fired.

Her former colleagues say Volha held a good position and salary at Naftan and could have lived a comfortable life. But she believed she had a duty to help others and improve life in her homeland. When it became clear she might be arrested, she refused to leave Belarus.

Maksim Pazniakou, acting chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, told Gazetaby that Volha inspired many Naftan workers to speak out and join the independent union.

“She understood that forming an independent union was the only legal and collective way to defend workers’ rights, including civil rights. You can’t separate the two, because workers are, for example, used as vote riggers in election commissions – the entire current state system is built on that.

Volha believed that participating in independent unions was a lawful form of resistance, where people unite, make decisions themselves, and carry them out. That’s how she was elected union leader – people simply trusted her. It was probably the most transparent and democratic election I’ve ever seen: multiple candidates, open and honest competition of programs. She’s so steadfast in her beliefs that she naturally draws people in.

I believe Volha’s prison sentence is personal revenge from KGB chairman Tertel, whom she publicly challenged during the rally near Naftan’s administration. Security service people don’t forgive what they see as public humiliation. That’s their mentality: ‘Who are you to behave like that?’ This regime doesn’t tolerate criticism and retaliates against it.

And of course, we’re deeply concerned about Volha’s situation, especially after her mother passed away. She has no close relatives left in Belarus who can send her care packages – only close family members are allowed to do that.

I can only imagine how hard it is for Volha to be in a colony without even minor support. But we’re doing everything we can to secure her release – through pressure from the International Labour Organization and other bodies.”

P.S. Currently, 20 trade union leaders and activists are serving sentences in Belarusian prisons.

Victoria Leontyeva

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