2023-04-20 13:45:39
On April 19, in the center of Berlin, near the Brandenburg Gate, a picket organized by the “Solidarity” Association was held demanding the release of Belarusian trade union leaders from prisons.
The action was timed to the anniversary of mass arrests on April 19, 2022, when the KGB searched all offices of democratic trade unions in Belarus.
On that day, about 20 activists, leaders and employees of four trade unions, which are members of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BCDP), were detained. Arrests took place in the vocational center itself. Then the chairman of the BKDP was detained Alexander Yaroshukhis deputy Sergey Antusevich and an accountant Iryna But-Husaim.
As a result of the arrests, which continued for a whole month, more than three dozen trade unionists were detained. Almost all of them were sentenced to different terms, from 1.5 to 9 years in prison. A member of the executive committee of the BKDP told about it at the rally Pavel Sokolovsky.
The participants of the action displayed banners with photographs of the arrested trade union leaders and posters demanding their release on the Paris Square in Berlin.
A representative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) also took part in the picket. Eduard Balanchukwho in his speech noted the deterioration of the situation in Belarus not only with the rights of trade unions, but also with fundamental human rights.
Ruben Tsanoffrepresenting the International Socialist League, noted that the dictatorial regime has become a platform for attacking Ukraine, thereby spreading lawlessness and autocracy to neighboring countries.
Bundestag deputies from “Alliance 90/Greens” also came to support the demands for the release of police prisoners. Helge Limburg and Beate Müller-Haemke.
Verdict of BKDP leaders
On December 26, the Minsk City Court handed down verdicts in the criminal case against the activists of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions Alexander Yaroshukhis deputy Sergey Antusevich and accountants Iryna But-Husaim. They were accused of “actions that grossly violate public order” (Part 1, Art. 342), and Yarashuk was also accused of “calling for restrictive measures, other actions aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus” (Part 3, Art. 361 ).
Judge Valyantsina Zyankevich announced the verdicts:
- Alexander Yaroshuk – 4 years in the general regime colony;
- Serhiy Antusevich — 2 years;
- Irina But-Husaim — 1.5 years.
Liquidation of the independent trade union movement in Belarus
By the decision of the Supreme Court in Belarus on July 12, the Belarusian Independent Trade Union and the Belarusian Radio Electronic Industry Workers’ Union (REP) were liquidated. The latter was recognized as an “extremist organization” in April.
On July 14, the Supreme Court made a decision on the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB) and the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM). July 18 – about the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions.
On June 10, the Prosecutor General Andrei Shved sent a statement to the Supreme Court to terminate the activities of several independent professional associations, such as SPM, SPB, BNP, REP and BKDP.
Repression against the leaders of independent trade unions
On May 13, the human rights community of Belarus recognized 10 representatives of independent trade unions, who were detained in April 2022, as political prisoners.
Aliaksandar Yarashuk, chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BCDP); Siarhei Antusevich, deputy chairman of the BKDP; Genadz Fiadynich, leader of the radio electronic industry trade union; trade union activists Vaclav Oreshka, Mikhail GromovIrina But-Husaim, Miroslav Sobchuk, Yanina Malash, Vital ChichmarovVasyl Berasnev.
“The deprivation of liberty of the specified persons took place against the background of a large-scale campaign of persecution of independent trade unions and trade union leaders recently and is of a systemic nature,” said the statement of human rights defenders, who called for the immediate release of all political prisoners and an end to political repression.
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