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On May 25, at the 15th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Maksim Pazniakou, acting chair of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), made an astute appeal for international labor solidarity. Before hundreds of delegates and guests from dozens of countries, Pazniakou in his speech raised the problem of systematic destruction of the trade union movement in Belarus and the mass repression faced by trade union leaders and activists in the country. «I am from Belarus, a country where since 1995 the labour movement was destroyed and in 2022 all independent trade unions were liquidated by the Lukashenka regime," Pazniakoг began his speech. - "At the moment 41 trade union leaders and activists are under criminal prosecution in Belarus, some of them have sentences of up to 15 years. Almost all of them are recognized as extremists, and some of them are even terrorists! Just imagine in the 21st century, in the centre of Europe, trade union work is equated to extremism!» He said that the Belarusian trade unions now need international labour solidarity to free their comrades from prison. «We must use all instruments of international solidarity: support campaigns, participate in solidarity protests, and apply international legal mechanisms, including Article 33 of the ILO charter to the government of Belarus!» The Belarusian trade union leader noted that at present the entire labor movement in the world is in crisis, and for its survival it is necessary to return to the fundamental principle of trade unions - international solidarity. «Greedy multinational corporations seek super-profits by squeezing the last resources from poor workers in developing countries. Vendacious governments, hiding behind concern for the future of the country, pass anti-worker laws that deprive us of our pensions, social support, and the hope of a decent old age. Dictatorial regimes prohibit strikes, destroy trade unions, persecute and imprison union leaders and activists, and the most insane unleash bloody wars to satisfy their imperial ambitions! So now, more than ever, we need to be united and in solidarity to win our common struggle for freedom, democracy and social justice!» At the end of the speech a video with portraits of trade union prisoners was shown. As a sign of respect for the struggle of the Belarusian workers, the whole hall stood up and applauded. Recall that the 15th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) continued for three days in Berlin. The event attracted about 600 delegates, including general secretaries or chairmen of 93 national trade unions from 41 European countries, 10 European trade union federations, as well as special guests from Europe and other countries. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and a number of other politicians. Read this text in бел or рус

The acting chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) Maksim Pazniakou met with the Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Gilbert F. Houngbo. The main topic of the meeting was the fate of dozens of trade union leaders and activists who are in Belarusian prisons. The meeting took place in the framework of the 15th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), currently being held in Berlin. One of the central topics of the meeting with the Director General were the issues concerning the imprisoned trade unionists in Belarus. Maksim Pazniakou thanked Gilbert F. Houngbo for his attempts to influence the fate of Belarusian trade unionists, including his appeal to the Belarusian authorities to invite ILO representatives to visit detained activists in prisons. However, it is worth noting that the Belarusian authorities refused to implement the proposals of the international organization. During the conversation, they also talked about the upcoming International Labour Conference, which will discuss the application of Article 33 of the ILO Charter against the Belarusian government for the long-standing violation of workers' rights and disregard for the recommendations of the International Labour Organization. In an effort to influence the position of delegates to the International Labor Conference before the vote, Mikhail Orda, chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FPB), has launched a mass mailing of letters. In these letters, he continues to praise Lukashenka's regime and equates mass arrests of trade union activists with the prevention of a coup d'état. Meanwhile, the number of political prisoners in Belarus has already exceeded 1500 people. More than 40 trade union activists are in prison, while hundreds, if not thousands, have been dismissed for their trade union work and are having difficulty finding new jobs. Maksim Pazniakou will report on this in his speech on May 25 to the participants of the 15th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Read this text in бел or рус

The 15th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will take place from Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 May 2023 in Berlin, Germany. It will be attended by a representative of the Belarusian democratic trade unions. The event will be attended by about 600 national trade union delegates, including general secretaries or chairmen of about 93 national trade union organizations from 41 European countries, 10 European trade union federations, as well as special guests from Europe and other countries. Belarus is represented by the acting chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) Maksim Pazniakou, who is invited to the Congress as a guest. He is also planned to address the participants of the event. Over four days, European trade union leaders will discuss trade union demands and priorities to ensure fair conditions for workers. They will exchange views on trade union renewal, the future of labor, a new economic model for people and the planet, the future of Europe and the strengthening of the ETUC. The Congress will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the European Trade Union Confederation: 50 years of struggle for workers. The Congress will elect a new leadership team for the ETUC, approve the 2019-2023 activity report, amend the ETUC Constitution and adopt key documents, including the Berlin Manifesto and the ETUC Action Program 2023-2027. German politicians including Olaf Scholz, German Federal Chancellor, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Hubertus Heil, German Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Nicholas Schmit, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights and others will also speak at the Congress. Read this text in бел or рус

Freedom for trade unionists in Belarus. Join the campaign on LabourStart! On 19 April, the LabourStart platform launched a campaign to collect signatures for a petition demanding the release of trade union leaders and activists arrested a year ago in Belarus. 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 ETUC conference calls for international solidarity for the liberation of Belarusian trade unionists On May 25, at the 15th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Maksim Pazniakou, acting chair of the Belarusian Congress The topic of the meeting between the leaders of the BKDP and the ILO was imprisoned trade unionists The acting chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) Maksim Pazniakou met with the Director General of the Inter BKDP representative among special guests at ETUC Congress The 15th Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will take place from Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 May 2023 in Berlin, Germany. Read all news Imprisoned unionists 40 number of trade union leaders and activists illegally imprisoned 35 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

Prisoners Our brothers and sisters who have been imprisoned by the regime because of their beliefs Rabochy Rukh Ablab Hanna Engineer of the Transportation Control Center of the Belarusian Railway in the train schedule development department. Detained by KGB operatives on September 20, 2021 after a search in her house and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center. She was charged under Part 1 of Article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. Sentenced to 11 years in prison. She has two minor children. SPB Aliakseichyk Aliaksei He was detained at the workplace, at the National Scientific Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology. Aleksey Alekseychik is a doctor with more than 20 years of experience performing bone marrow transplantation. Sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison. BKDP Antusevich Siarhei Deputy Chairman of the BKDP. He was arrested on April 19 and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center. On the same day, the office of the BKDP and the house of Sergei Antusevich were searched. He was sentenced to 2 years in prison under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (Group actions grossly violating public order). REP Areshka Vatslau REP trade union activist, trade union newspaper editor. Arrested on April 19, 2022 after a search in the apartment. On January 5, 2023, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. He is being held in Mogilev Prison #4. REP Berasneu Vasil Acting chairman of the REP trade union. He was detained on April 19, 2022 as part of a criminal case, placed in a pre-trial detention center and charged. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison under a reinforced regime. BNP Berdnikovich Uladzimir Sentenced to 4 years in prison under article 364: "Violence or the threat of violence against an employee of the internal affairs bodies." According to relatives, 4.10. 2020, Vladimir was at one of the rallies, running away during dispersal, he was knocked down by a water cannon from the parapet, and he fell from a height onto an riot police officer. Later, this fall was regarded as violence against a police officer. SPB Budzko Kasia A 20 year old student that joined Belarusian Free trade union has been sentenced to two and a half years of prison for taking part in unauthorized mass events in 2020. Kasia was released in November 2022 . SPB Bulybenka Anastasiya A 20 year old student that joined Belarusian Free trade union has been sentenced to two and a half years of prison for taking part in unauthorized mass events in 2020. Anastasiya was released in November 2022. BKDP But-Husaim Iryna The press secretary of the office of the BKDP was detained on April 19, 2022 as part of a criminal case and placed in a pre-trial detention center. According to preliminary information, she is charged with art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Group actions grossly violating public order). She has a minor child. The cases of Yarashuk, Antusevich and But-Husaim had been grouped as one. Iryna was released in May 2023. SPM Chychmarou Vitali A former engineer. He was fired in 2020 due to trade union activities. He managed the primary organization of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers. He was detained on April 19, 2022, and the house was searched. Vitaly was charged, he was placed in a pre-trial detention center. He has a minor child. Vitali has been sentenced to three years of restricted freedom under home confinement. Rabochy Rukh Dziuba Siarhei Rabochy Rukh activist, worked as a dispatcher at the Transportation Control Center of the Belarusian Railway. In November 2020, he joined the nationwide strike. Detained by KGB operatives on September 20, 2021 after a search in the house and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center. A criminal case has been initiated under part 1 of article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. Sentenced to 12 years in prison. He has three minor children. REP Fiadynich Hennadz Former chairman of the Independent Trade Union of Radioelectronic Industry Workers - REP. Gennady was detained on April 19, 2022 and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center. Then he was charged and transferred to SIZO-1. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison under a high security regime. Rabochy Rukh Hashnikau Aliaksandr Locksmith BMZ in Zhlobin, where he simultaneously worked as secretary-treasurer of the primary organization of the BNP. He was detained on September 18, 2021. He was detained as part of the investigation of a criminal case on “high treason” (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) against several workers of Belarusian factories who supported local strikes after the falsification of the August elections. 2020 and were part of the Labor Rights Group "Rabochy Rukh". Sentenced to 14 years in prison. BNP Hovar Yauheni Belarusian Metallurgical Plant employee, sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, sentence commuted to "khimiya"/chemistry. Charges indicted: Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them. Yauhen took part in an attempt of a warning strike at Belarusian Metallurgical plant on August, 17th 2020. He has one minor child. SPB Hrankouskaya Viktoryia A former student of BNTU who was expelled during the autumn protests in Belarus. She was detained on November 12, 2020 as part of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the CC (Organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). First, she was placed in custody in the KGB pre-trial detention center, then transferred to pre-trial detention center-1. On July 16, 2021, the court sentenced the girl to 2 years and 6 months in prison. Viktoryia was released in November 2022 . SPM Hromau Mikhail Secretary of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers trade union council. He was arrested on April 19, 2022. Mikhail was charged and placed in a pre-trial detention center. He is charged with Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Group actions grossly violating public order) and sentenced to 2 and a half years of restricted freedom under home confinement. SPB Kandratsiuk Aliaksandr On September 5, Aliaksandr Kandratsiuk, a member of SPB, a junior researcher at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, was detained and accused of inciting racial, national or religious hatred or discord. Awaiting trial. SPM Karneenka Anna Anna, a former accountant of the Minsk Electrotechnical Plant named after Vavilov and a member of the SPM trade union, was fired after the "People's Ultimatum" in 2020 and was suing the company for illegal dismissal. Recently it became known that a criminal case was opened against her. The woman was charged under Art. 203-1 part 3 (illegal actions in relation to information about private life and personal data), art. 130 part 3 (inciting racial, national, religious or other social hatred). Rabochy Rukh Kapshul Aliaksandr Legal adviser of JSC Naftan and Polymir plants. He was detained on September 25, 2021 in Russia and handed over to the KGB officers of Belarus, who secretly brought him to Minsk, bypassing the official extradition procedure. He was detained as part of the investigation of a criminal case on “high treason” (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) against several workers of Belarusian factories who supported local strikes after the rigged elections in August 2020 and were members of the Rabochy Rukh. Sentenced to 14 years in prison. BNP Khanevich Andrei Chairperson of Belarusian Independent trade union at JSC Grodno Azot. After the court ruling had been recognized the union organization as an extremist group, the criminal accusation of the chairperson followed. On November 16th 2022 Khanevich faced the trial on accusations of aiding and abetting in extremist activities and was sentenced to five years of imprisonment. Andrei is going to appeal to the Supreme Court. SPM Malash Yanina Deputy for organizational work of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers, was detained on April 19, 2022, after interrogation she was not released. Yanina was placed in a pre-trial detention center and charged with Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Group actions grossly violating public order). She has a minor child. Yanina has been sentenced for a year and a half in prison. Yanina was released in May 2023. SPB Mialeshka Aliaksandr Board member of SPB union branch organization “Panacea”. An employee of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Children's Oncology, Hematology and Immunology was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom under home confinement allegedly for taking part in two unauthorized mass events in 2020. REP Mikhniuk Zinaida Vice-chairperson of REP, she was detained on March 25, 2022 after searches at her home and in the office of the organization. The woman was placed in a pre-trial detention center on charges of insulting the president (Article 368 of the Criminal Code). On May 18, 2022, the trial of the case of Zinaida Mikhniuk was completed. Judge sentenced her to two years' imprisonment in a penal colony. Naftan Mints Ihar Ihar is a legal adviser to Naftan OJSC. He was detained and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention facility in Minsk the day after the search of his house in Novopolotsk on 22 September 2021. Mints was charged with high treason (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) in the Rabochy Rukh case. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison. BNP Mishuk Aliaksandr Vice-chairperson of the Belarusian Independent trade union, BNP; chairperson of the Independent trade union of miners at JSC Belaruskali; he was arrested on 25th of May 2022 after a search in his office and at home, placed in a pre-trial detention center and charged under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). He was tried and sentenced to 2 and a half years of imprisonment. Rabochy Rukh Paheryla Andrei Repairman of the Ammonia-3 shop of Grodno Azot JSC. He was detained on September 17, 2021. He was held in custody as part of the investigation of a criminal case on “high treason” (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) in the case of “Rabochy Rukh”. Sentenced to 14 years in prison. He has two minor children. BNP Povarau Ihar On August 17, in protest against election fraud and violence against peaceful protesters, he and other workers blocked the road for technological transport at the plant. Arrested and sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison, allegedly for "Organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order, or actively participating in them”. Most of his term he is put in solitary confinement. On September, 17th 2021 the General Director of the ILO Guy Ryder appealed to the Government of the Republic Belarus to release Povarau, but no reaction followed. Ihar has two minor children. SPM Sabchuk Miraslau Free trade union of Metalworkers’ activist. He was detained on April 19, 2022 and placed in a pre-trial detention center. In September 2022 Miraslau was tried and sentenced to one and a half years of restricted freedom under home confinement. Rabochy Rukh Shelest Siarhei Operator of the Ammonia-3 shop of JSC Grodno Azot. He was detained as part of the investigation of a criminal case on “high treason” (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) in the case of “Rabochy Rukh”. Sentenced to 14 years in prison. BNP Sliazhou Siarhey Was detained in Zhlobin in a criminal case brought for comments on the Internet after the death of KGB officer Dzmitry Fedosiuk and it-specialist Andrei Zeltser in a Minsk flat. It is known that Siarhei is prosecuted under the Criminal Code Article 369 (insulting a public officer) and Article 130 (inciting social hatred). In mid-December 2021 it became known about the transfer of Siarhei from Zhodzina ST No. 8 to Homiel SIZO-3. On November 24, he was sentenced to 3 years in prison for his comments on social networks. Rabochy Rukh Tseranevich Valiantsin Assistant foreman of the Khimvolokno plant of Grodno Azot OJSC and deputy chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union at Grodno Azot. Valiantsin was detained on September 20, 2021. He was accused of "high treason" (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) in the case of the "Rabochy Rukh". Sentenced to 12 years in prison. Rabochy Rukh Shametska Siarhei Sergey, an employee of CJSC "Atlant", is a defendant in the "Rabochy Rukh" case. He was under criminal investigation for treason against the state (part 1 of article 356 of the Criminal Code), as well as under part 3 of article 361-1 of the Criminal Code (participation in an extremist formation). On November 9th, 2022 the consideration of the "Rabochy Rukh" case, in which ten political prisoners were involved, started in Homel regional court. On February 17th , 2023, Homel regional court passed a verdict - Siarhei was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment under a strengthened regime. BKDP Yarashuk Aliaksandr Acting member of the Governing Body of the ILO; Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); Chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP). On April 19, 2022, searches were carried out in his office and house, and equipment was seized. He was detained and placed in a pre-trial detention center. Charged under several articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (342 part 1 and 361 part 3). Sentenced by the Minsk city court to 4 years in prison. SPM Zharnak Artsiom A former engineer of the Minsk Automobile plant. He was fired in 2020 due to trade union activities. He managed the primary organization of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers. He was arrested on November 17, 2021. He was taken into custody on charges under Part 3 of Art. 293 and Art. 361 of the Criminal Code for training rioters and calling for restrictive measures. In October, 2022 he was tried and sentenced to four years of imprisonment in the penal colony. Rabochy Rukh Zhurauka Uladzimir Operator of the Ammonia-3 shop of JSC "Grodno Azot". He was detained on September 18, 2021. Convicted in the framework of a criminal case on "high treason" (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) in the "Rabochy Rukh" case. Sentenced to 15 years in prison. SPB Martsinovich Uladzislau Uladzislau a fourth-year student of the Belarusian State Medical University, was detained on 19 November 2020. He was charged under Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (group actions that grossly violate public order). On November 15, 2021 the court sentenced Uladzislau to four years in a general regime colony. At the end of January 2022, Vladislau was transferred from SIZO-1 to penal colony No. 15 in Mahiliou. He was put on the list of persons involved in extremist activities. BNP Senik Maksim Maxim is a member of the Grodno Azot Independent Trade Union and was detained in Grodno for taking part in protests in 2020 and for reposting on social media. He faces charges under Article 342 of the Criminal Code - Organising and preparing acts grossly violating public order, or actively participating in them. MTZ Puchak Dzianis Dzianis Puchak, a former MTZ employee, was detained on November 22, 2022. He was charged under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). He was placed in SIZO-1. The case of the political prisoner was considered in the court of the Partizansky district of Minsk. On February 28, 2023, the court found Denis guilty and sentenced him to two and a half years of restriction of freedom without being sent to a correctional institution. He was released from custody in the courtroom. BNP Belazerova Volha Chemical analysis laboratory assistant at JSC "Grodno Azot". According to the indictment, Volha Belazerova participated in the coupling of citizens at the "March of Unity" in Grodno on September 6 last year. ​ On 29 November 2021, Judge handed down their verdict and sentenced her to six months less than the state prosecutor had requested in the court proceedings: a year and a half of "home chemistry". She was put on the list of persons involved in extremist activities. BNP Kasila Aleh Aleh Kosilo, leading engineer of Krasnaselskstroymaterialy, is charged under two articles of the Criminal Code of Belarus - Article 188 and Article 341. The defendant refused to be defended by a lawyer. He defended his rights in court himself. To On the merits he was sentenced to 2 years and 2 months of restriction of liberty without sending him to an open prison. BNP Sedlyar Vitaly Vitaly is an electrician at Krasnoselskstroymaterialy. He is accused of the crime under article 188 of the Criminal Code - "slander". The accused refused from the counsel. He defended his rights in court himself. On 22 December Volkovysk District Court passed the verdict. Vitali Sedliar was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment without referral to temporary detention facility. ​ SPM Shulgat Andrei Andrei is a former MTZ employee. He was detained on September 29, 2021 for comments on social networks about the death of Andrei Zeltser and a KGB officer. A criminal case was opened against Andrei under Part 1 of Art. 130 of the Criminal Code (Incitement of hatred) and Art. 369 of the Criminal Code (insulting a representative of authority). On January 31, 2023, the KGB added the political prisoner to the list of "persons involved in terrorist activities." SPM Batura Yauhen Yauhen, a former MTZ worker, was detained on June 29, 2022 in Minsk after a search of his apartment. He was detained for participation in a protest action in 2020. Yauhen was charged under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (Group Acts Grossly Disrupting Public Order). The political prisoner was sentenced to two years of restriction of liberty with placement in a penitentiary facility. He was put on the list of persons involved in extremist activities. BNP Zabiran Aliaksei Aliaksei, an employee at JSC Grodno Azot, was detained on 4 November 2021 in the framework of the criminal case under Art 369 of the Criminal Code (insulting a representative of the authorities), as well as Art 368 (insulting Lukashenka) and Art 130 (inciting hatred or discord). On June 23, 2022 the Grodno Regional Court sentenced him to three years' imprisonment in a minimum security penal colony, as well as 1000 rubles as a payment to the victim and a fine of 1600 rubles. He was put on the lists of "persons involved in extremist activities" and of "persons involved in terrorist activities." ​ SPB Barushka Volha Volha, an anesthesiologist-resuscitator at the Minsk Scientific and Practical Center for Surgery, Transplantology and Hematology. She was detained in August 2022 for comments on the Internet. Volha was charged under Article 369 of the Criminal Code (Insulting a representative of the authorities) and Article 391 of the Criminal Code (Insulting a judge). On December 22, 2022, the court sentenced her to 2 years in a minimum-security penal colony. On March 17, 2023 an appeal hearing was held: the verdict was upheld and the appeal was not satisfied. Since April 2023, Olga has been kept in penal colony No. 4. She was put on the list of persons involved in extremist activities. ​

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