{"id":11432,"date":"2022-06-13T12:27:34","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T09:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/longreads\/belarusian-authorities-seeking-to-root-out-independent-trade-unions\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","slug":"belarusian-authorities-seeking-to-root-out-independent-trade-unions","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11432\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarusian authorities seeking to root out independent trade unions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n Via\u010des\u0142a\u016d Koras\u0107e\u0144, BPN<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t * Reproduction is allowed\n<\/p>\n

\n The Prosecutor General’s Office<\/a> has filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court to shut down Belarus\u2019 embattled independent trade unions.<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

Prosecutors say unions involved in destructive activities<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t Some trade unions have been involved in politics since 2020, while their leaders and members participated in “destructive activities and unsanctioned mass events, and distributed extremist content,” An\u017ealika Kur\u010dak, spokesperson for the Prosecutor General’s Office, charged in a statement.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The Prosecutor General’s Office seeks the closure of the Belarusian Free Trade Union, Free Union of Steel Industry Workers, Belarusian Independent Trade Union, Belarusian Trade Union of Electronic Industry Workers as well as their umbrella organization, Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The move comes two months after the authorities declared the electronic union an extremist group. A wave of arrests of independent trade union activists swept across Belarus on April 18 and 19.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Human rights defenders declared jailed trade union leaders as political prisoners, including Alaksandr Jara\u0161uk, \u015aarhiej Antusevi\u010d, Hienad\u017a Fiadyni\u010d, Vac\u0142a\u016d Are\u0161ka, Michai\u0142 Hroma\u016d, Miras\u0142a\u016d Sab\u010duk, Iryna But-Gusaim, Janina Mala\u0161, Vital \u010cy\u010dmaro\u016d, and Vasil Bierasne\u016d.\n<\/p>\n

Government fears of worker protests<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t Although independent unions were not a driver of 2020 post-election protests, trade union cell leaders were outspoken at major state-controlled factories during the political unrest, said Pavie\u0142 Usa\u016d, of the Warsaw-based Center for Political Analysis and Prognosis.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \u201cFactory workers have the power to force management into concessions and can even become a vehicle of change [in the country],\u201d he told The Viewer. \u201cBut this would be difficult to do without a structured movement, coalescence and engagement with workers on the ground.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The closure suit has not come as a surprise, said Juryj Ravavy, a member of the Hrodna Azot trade union cell branded an extremist group by the authorities. Local prosecutors have always kept up pressure on independent unions, whereas now Prosecutor General Andrej \u0160vied has decided, or has been told, to silence all independent voices in a go, he told The Viewer.\n<\/p>\n

Crisis and sanctions may fuel discontent<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t Belarus\u2019 industries have been targeted by Western sanctions for months. Restrictions have been tightened after Belarus\u2019 backed Russia in its assault on Ukraine in late February.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The measures have reportedly affected major exporters, including the Bie\u0142aruskali potash giant, Naftan oil refinery and Belarusian Steel Work.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The economic hardships may give rise to protest sentiment at factories. \u201cThe authorities brace themselves for a socioeconomic decline,\u201d Usa\u016d said. \u201cLiving standards are already down. One can only guess what can happen if companies cut pay and jobs.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \u201cThe regime is afraid of strikes and is wary of [independent] trade union cells because it sees them as the center of worker power, a place where workers can organize and voice their grievances,\u201d Ravavy said.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \u201cThe existence of opposition organizations [unions] capable of mobilizing and coordinating workers is a serious challenge to [Alaksandr] \u0141uka\u0161enka even after he has banned all other non-government associations,\u201d Usa\u016d said.\n<\/p>\n

Official appeals to International Labor Organization<\/span> <\/h2>\n

\n\t Meanwhile, Belarus\u2019 labor minister appealed to participants at the International Labor Conference, which drew to a close in Geneva last week, to denounce and lift sanctions. Iryna Kas\u0107evi\u010d assured those present that Minsk\u2019s policy is based on the basic principle of social justice.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Ravavy pointed out that the closure suit proves the opposite, noting that Belarus\u2019 free unions are no longer represented at international labor events.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t In 2011, Alaskandr Jara\u0161uk, chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, was elected to the International Labor Organization\u2019s executive council. Now he is at a detention center waiting for trial on charges of organizing mass riots in connection with the 2020 post-election protests. Independent unions were not represented at the International Labor Conference.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The International Labor Organization in April condemned<\/a> the Belarusian government crackdown on independent trade unions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Via\u010des\u0142a\u016d Koras\u0107e\u0144, BPN * Reproduction is allowed The Prosecutor General’s Office has filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court to shut down Belarus\u2019 embattled independent trade unions. Prosecutors say unions involved in destructive activities Some trade unions have been involved in politics since 2020, while their leaders and members participated in “destructive activities and unsanctioned mass […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[22],"class_list":["post-11432","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBelarusian authorities seeking to root out independent trade unions | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Via\u010des\u0142a\u016d Koras\u0107e\u0144, BPN * Reproduction is allowed The Prosecutor General's Office has filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court to shut down Belarus\u2019\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11432\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta 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