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Belarus: Stop the attacks on the unions - free jailed union activists now

In partnership with Association Salidarnast, which works for the revival of the independent trade union movement in Belarus, and the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP).

Following the illegitimate election in 2020, the Lukashenko regime intensified suppression of the independent trade unions. In April 2022 the authorities launched a full scale attack on all independent unions, and arrested leaders and activists. Currently, there are at least 23 unionists who are detained or limited in freedom, 8 trade unionists serve sentences in prison, 2 are under home arrest, while others wait for court trials. Meanwhile, in July the Supreme Court forcibly dissolved the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) and 4 major trade unions, as the authorities labelled independent unions 'extremists' and 'Western agents', engaged in defamation campaigns with a clear message that anyone who is associated with the BKDP and its affiliates risks being prosecuted. Furthermore, several activists of the strike movement face many years in prison for 'treason against the state'. For all these violations of International Labour Standards, the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has begun a process that will lead to further sanctions on the government of Belarus. We demand the dropping of charges and immediate release of all the activists and a stop to the prosecution of independent trade unionists in Belarus. We stand firm for the restoration of independent democratic unions in Belarus.

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Type in your message here - or just use the existing message. We urge the Belarusian government to drop all unfair charges, free the jailed trade union leaders and activists, and overturn the Supreme Court's decision to shut down independent trade unions. Enter the number 5229 here: Thank you Would you like to receive future urgent action alerts from us? Yes : No : LabourStart takes your privacy very seriously. Read our privacy statement here. Your message will be sent to the following email addresses: zaidarnast@gmail.com, belarus.geneva@mfa.gov.by, germany@mfa.gov.by, china@mfa.gov.by, france@mfa.gov.by, italy@mfa.gov.by, japan@mfa.gov.by, norway@mfa.gov.by, netherlands@mfa.gov.by, usa@mfa.gov.by, uk.london@mfa.gov.by, sweden@mfa.gov.by