Unfortunately, we have to report very tragic news. On 5 January 2023, a court in Minsk sentenced (in the first instance-judgement by
Elena Popkova ) the following trade union activists: Hennadz Flandynich to 9 years in a maximum security prison, Vasil Berasneu to 9 years in a medium security prison and Vatslau Areshka to 8 years in a general security prison.

All were charged with calling for measures to harm the national security of the Republic of Belarus (part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code), inciting social hatred (part 3 of Article 130), creating or participating in an extremist formation (part 1 and part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code).

In April 2022, the Lukashenko regime imprisoned dozens of trade union leaders and activists, including BKDP chairman Alyaksandr Yarashuk. In July, the Belarusian government intensified the process of dismantling the country’s independent trade union movement through sham trials and a ruthless campaign of persecution and slander.

Since then, the Belarusian government has continued a series of trials against trade unionists, with several already receiving long prison sentences and others still in detention for months often deprived of contact with their families and lawyers.

The trial against BKDP chairman Alyaksandr Yarashuk, BKDP vice-chairman Sergei Antusevich and BKDP mediator Iryna But-Husaim took place in December 2022 in Minsk. All three were charged under two criminal articles: active participation in actions that grossly violate public order and calling for actions detrimental to national security. They were sentenced respectively to 4, 2 and 1.5 years in prison.

Boris Kravchenko, chairman of the Confederation of Labour of Russia (KTR) and vice-chairman of the MKZZ, observed the trial and gave evidence. He said: „I was able to present the position of my organisation to the court, as well as that of the MKZZ. The trial itself was conducted in a procedurally correct manner, but our colleagues were convicted on the basis of articles that themselves violate international obligations, including ILO conventions, but also the constitutional rights of Belarusian citizens. The application of these articles to trade unionists is absurd. We will continue to fight for their full rehabilitation, for the reinstatement of the BKDP and for freedom of association in the Republic of Belarus.”

Owen Tudor, Deputy General Secretary of the IUCN said that „trade unions around the world are appalled at the injustice of this attack on freedom of association. We will continue to fight for their release, for an end to the persecution of all trade unionists in Belarus, and for a complete lifting of the bans imposed on the BKDP and its member organisations. We stand with the workers of Belarus”.

The ICC Congress condemned the Lukashenko regime’s repression of the people of Belarus and the free and independent trade union movement in the country and pledged to campaign for the release of all imprisoned trade unionists and defenders of democracy in Belarus. Earlier in November, at a special meeting, the Administrative Council of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) deplored the imprisonment, Belarus’ repeated failure to respect ILO standards and invoked the most serious measures within the ILO’s mandate to ensure respect for trade union freedom in the country.

The human rights community in Belarus recognised the 2022 detained representatives of independent trade unions as political prisoners. Alyaksandr Yarashuk, chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions; Syarhey Antusevich, deputy chairman of the BKDP; Alyaksandr Mishuk, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union, chairman of the BNP’s core organisation in Belarus, were recognised as political prisoners; Andrei Khanevich, chairman of the BNP core organisation at Grodno Nitrogen; Fiadynich Hennadz, founder of the radio-electronic industry trade union; union activists Areshka Vatslau, Mikhail Hromau, Iryna But-Husaim, Miraslau Sabchuk, Yanina Malash, Vitali Chychmarou and VasilBerasneu.

The trade unions under attack in Belarus are:






  • BKDP – the first independent trade union centre in the country, founded 29 years ago and a member of the ICFTU since 2003;
  • Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM) – founded in 1995, represents workers in the metal and machinery sector and is affiliated to IndustriAll Global Union;
  • Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB) – founded in 1991, its branches represent working people in many sectors, including education, banking and self-employment, and its health care branch is a member of EPSU;
  • Belarusian Trade Union of Radio-Electronic Industry Workers (REP) – founded 32 years ago, member of IndustriAll Global Union; 
  • Belarusian Independent Trade Union – founded in 1991, representing working people in the following industries: mining, chemical, transport, energy and construction, the largest independent union in the country, member of IndustriAll Global Union and IUF.










Courtesy of: Barbara Surdykowska, NSZZ Solidarność