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Supreme Court terminates activity of five independent trade unions

2022 2022-07-19T15:42:00+0300 2022-07-19T15:42:00+0300 en https://spring96.org./files/images/sources/rep-peratrus-30.jpg The Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna”
The Human Rights Center “Viasna”
Search at REP Trade Union office. Photo: Nasha Niva

Search at REP Trade Union office. Photo: Nasha Niva

The Supreme Court ruled to terminate the activity of five independent trade unions:

  • the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB);
  • the Free Trade Union of Metal Workers (SPM);
  • the Belarusian Independent Trade Union of Miners, Chemists, Oil Refiners, Energy Engineers, Transporters, Builders and Other Workers;
  • Belarusian Radio-Electrical Manufacturing Workers' Trade Union (REM);
  • and the Association of Trade Unions Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions.

The Prosecutor's Office claims that the activities of the independent trade unions became politicized and their leaders were engaged in ‘destructive activities’. Criminal proceedings were initiated on all facts of their unlawful activity, as well as administrative measures were taken.

Persecution of independent trade unions and trade union leaders has recently been of a systemic nature. Thus, authorities defined the Belarusian Radio-Electrical Manufacturing Workers' Trade Union (REM) as an “extremist formation”.  The primary organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union of Hrodna Azot employees was also proclaimed extremist; the court ruled to liquidate it. It is known about multiple arrests of representatives of independent trade unions and activists of regional trade union cells in February–April 2022. On April 19, 2022, an attack on the independent trade union movement took place. The leaders and activists of independent trade unions of Belarus were arrested.

On the cessation of persecution of Belarusian independent trade unions

On April 19, 2022, an attack on the independent trade union movement took place. Searches were conducted in the office of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BCDTU) and the offices of its affiliates - the Belarusian Free Trade Union (BFTU), the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (FTUM), and the Belarusian Radio-Electrical Manufacturing Workers' Trade Union (REM) in Minsk and regions, as well as in the private homes of trade union leaders and activists. The Belarusian human rights community firmly opposes another wave of relentless repression of civil society in Belarus.

 

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