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Today, March 24, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus considered an appeal against the decision of the Minsk City Court against the leadership of the Association of Trade Unions "Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions" (BKDP). Aliaksandr Yarashuk, Siarhei Antusevich and Iryna But-Husaim were convicted on charges of actions grossly violating public order (participation in a protest action). Aliaksandr Yarashuk was also charged with allegedly calling for restrictive measures and other actions aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus. The appeal hearing began at 9:30 a.m. and was held without the participation of the defendants. The court left the verdict against the BKDP leaders unchanged. Recall that chairman Aliaksandr Yarashuk was sentenced to 4 years in prison, his deputy Siarhei Antusevich - 2 years, and accountant Iryna But-Husaim - 1.5 years in prison. All of the accused have been in custody since April 19, 2022. At the moment the BKDP leader Aliaksandr Yarashuk is in pre-trial detention in Mahiliou, as well as his deputy Siarhei Antusevich. Accountant IIryna But-Husaim is serving her sentence in Minsk SIZO-1. Read this text in бел or рус

Two new employees at Minsk plant "Termoplast" were fired on the first day for refusing to join a pro-government trade union organization, part of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, reports "Nasha Niva". At first, the deputy director for ideology suggested that they join the union voluntarily. When she heard their arguments that they were already members of the independent REP trade union, whose leaders were behind bars, she said that it was impossible to work with such a position at the enterprise, even though the plant was short of specialist adjusters. In a private conversation, the ideologist explained to employees that the trade union was not her whim, but an order for all state-owned enterprises. The Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FPB), although formally considered to be a trade union, in fact is not. Like the unions of women, youth and veterans, this is a state-controlled structure that serves the ruling regime. Among other things, she nominates her candidates for election commissions in pseudo-elections, in which an honest vote count is not conducted. The head of the FPB is Mikhail Orda, a confidant of Aliaksandr Lukashenka, who previously headed the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM). Read this text in бел or рус

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on the Belarusian government to stop the systematic repression of those considered opposition-minded and immediately release all those detained on political grounds. The report draws on interviews with 207 victims and witnesses and an analysis of over 2,500 items of evidence, including photographs, videos, medical and court records. It documents widespread and systematic violations of international human rights law, including unlawful deprivation of life and numerous cases of arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture and ill-treatment, as well as sexual and gender-based violence, violations of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and the denial of due process and equal protection of the law. “Our report paints an unacceptable picture of impunity and the near-total destruction of civic space and fundamental freedoms in Belarus,” Türk said. “The Government owes it to its people to bring a halt to this mass repression and to conduct impartial and transparent investigations to ensure that those responsible for grave violations are held accountable.” The report details the findings of the Office’s examination of the human rights situation in Belarus, mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, and covers the period from 1 May 2020 to 31 December 2022. Violations appear to have been part of a campaign of violence and repression intentionally directed at those who were – or were perceived to be – opposing the Government or had expressed critical views, the report says. The report considers that some of these violations may amount to crimes against humanity. The beating of thousands of peaceful protesters in the immediate aftermath of disputed elections, from 9 to 14 August 2020, was approved at a high level within Government, coordinated and openly incited, the report finds. The examination also finds reasonable grounds to believe that unnecessary and disproportionate force was used against demonstrators and detainees, resulting in at least five deaths. “Given the widespread unlawful use of force, the widespread and systematic practice of torture and inhuman treatment, including denial of medical care, and the overall situation of impunity, the actual death toll during the protests and related arrests may have been higher and further investigation would be required,” the report notes. The UN Human Rights Office collected dozens of first-hand accounts of torture and found hundreds of complaints to be credible. It also documented over 100 cases of sexual and gender-based violence against detainees. But the scale of sexual and gender-based violations and abuses is likely to be under-reported due to stigma, fear of reprisals and denial of access of UN Human Rights investigators to the country. Severe sentences passed by the courts are illustrative of the instrumentalization and abuse of the justice system against opposition figures, bloggers, journalists, human rights defenders, trade union activists and lawyers, the report states. More than a dozen legislative amendments have been passed since 2021 targeting political activists and opponents, facilitating practices such as trials in absentia, revocation of citizenship and confiscation of private property. In addition, the scope of the death penalty has been expanded. The signature into law on 9 March of provisions authorising the death penalty for civil servants and army personnel convicted of “high treason” further illustrates the extent of repression that is being pursued. “The appalling practice of pursuing and punishing people for carrying out legitimate human rights work continues,” said Türk, noting the long prison sentences handed down in recent weeks, including against opposition leaders Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Pavel Latushko; Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and three other members of the Viasna human rights centre; journalist Andrzej Poczobut; and 10 members of the Workers Movement "Rabochy Rukh". As of 17 March, 1,462 people are in detention in Belarus on politically motivated charges. By February 2023, the authorities had shut down 797 NGOs, while 432 others had closed to avoid potential prosecution – figures that account for virtually all the human rights groups working in the country. Most independent Belarusian media outlets have been forced to close – with some declared “extremist“ – along with, recently, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). “It is disgraceful that Belarus authorities are determined to pursue those convicted of so-called ‘extremist activities’ and even go so far as to strip them of their citizenship. Such arbitrary deprivation of nationality will in some cases risk rendering a person stateless,” the High Commissioner said. While the primary responsibility to address human rights violations remains with Belarus, the report urges UN Member States to consider working towards accountability through national proceedings based on accepted principles of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction. Source: ohchr Read this text in бел or рус

The verdict against the BKDP leaders was left unchanged Today, March 24, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus considered an appeal against the decision of the Minsk City Court against the leadership of the Association of Trade Unions "Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions" (BKDP). Read more About Salidarnast Who we are The Salidarnast Association was founded by trade union leaders and activists from Belarus, who were forced to leave the country after the liquidation and repression of democratic trade unions. The charitable association is registered in Germany and based in Bremen. Read More Latest News The verdict against the BKDP leaders was left unchanged Today, March 24, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus considered an appeal against the decision of the Minsk City Court agains Joining the FPB - an order for all state-owned enterprises Two new employees at Minsk plant "Termoplast" were fired on the first day for refusing to join a pro-government trade union organization, pa Belarus must end systematic repression, release detainees, UN Human Rights Chief says UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on the Belarusian government to stop the systematic repression of those considered Read all news Imprisoned unionists 31 number of trade union leaders and activists illegally imprisoned 26 of them are men who fought for workers' rights and freedoms in Belarus 5 brave women who stood up for democratic values and the right to decent work Our brothers and sisters who have been imprisoned by the regime because of their beliefs Ablab Hanna Rabochy Rukh Aliakseichyk Aliaksei SPB Antusevich Siarhei BKDP Areshka Vatslau REP Berasneu Vasil REP Berdnikovich Uladzimir BNP Budzko Kasia SPB Bulybenka Anastasiya SPB But-Husaim Iryna BKDP Chychmarou Vitali SPM Dziuba Siarhei Rabochy Rukh Fiadynich Hennadz REP View all Upcoming events No upcoming events at the moment

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Campaings The trial against the leaders of the BKDP begins on December 20, 2022 The chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions - Aliaksandr Yarashuk, deputy chair - Siarhei Antusevich and the accountant of the trade union association - Iryna But-Husaim are on trial for their trade union activities and the anti-war stance the organisation has taken since the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine Solidarity campaign Association «Salidarnast» and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) call on trade union leaders and activists around the world to hold actions of solidarity with the arrested Belarusian trade unionists Download here Download archive Chairman of the BKDP Aliaksandr Yarashuk Download Deputy chair of the BKDP Siarhei Antusevich Download Accountant of the BKDP Iryna But-Husaim Download Free jailed unionists Poster 1 Download Free jailed unionists Poster 2 Download Free jailed unionists Poster 3 Download Free jailed unionists Poster 4 Download Free jailed unionists Flyer blank + Eng text Download Act now! LabourStart flyer Download Act now! LabourStart flyer blank Download Free jailed unionists Flyer Eng Download Free jailed unionists Facebook frame Download