Alena Zakhozhaya Continues Hunger Strike in Babruisk, He Colleagues Stopped

Head of Belshyna branch of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BITU) Ryhor Spasiuk told RFE/RL, BITU members had decided to stop their hunger strike. The protest is continued only by Alena Zakhozhaya. “Today is the 28th day of Alena’s hunger-strike,” Ryhor Spasiuk specified.

Last Friday the Council of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions made an Appeal to participants of Belshyna hunger strike. Today Ryhor Spasiuk says that they agreed with the Appeal, as the state of health of the hunger strike participants does not allow them to perform well at physically demanding jobs at the company. Alena Zakhozhaya decided to continue.

It’s not the first hunger strike for Alena Zakhozhaya. In May 2001 her protest action lasted 15 days. That allowed the BITU branch to rent premises. After that Babrujsk city executive committee registered the legal address of the organization.