Statement by the BKDP Executive Committee in connection with the attack on trade union activists

The Executive Committee of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) issued a statement regarding the attack by the state authorities and state security forces on the leaders and activists of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union.

Statement

by the Executive Committee

of the Association of Trade Unions “Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions” (BKDP)

The BKDP Executive Committee expresses a strong protest in connection with the unprecedented attack by the authorities and their security forces on the leaders and activists of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP). The Chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union Maksim Poznyakov and the Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union at OJSC Naftan in Novopolotsk Valim Mikhailov were subjected to a heavy fine. This morning the state security forces conducted a search in the apartment of the chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union at OJSC Naftan Olga Britikova and in the office of the trade union.

During the search, computer equipment was seized, and Olga Britikova was detained. The members of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union of OJSC Naftan Andrei Berezovsky and Roman Shkodin were detained, they were sentenced to 7 and 15 days’ imprisonment, respectively. Yesterday evening, the Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union at OJSC Grodno Azot, Valentin Terenevich, was detained; last weekend, two members of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union at OJSC Grodno Azot, Andrei Pogerilo and Vladimir Zhuravko were detained as well. In Zhloin, on September 17, Aleksander Gashnikov, the secretary-treasurer of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union at OJSC Belarusian Steel Works, was detained.

The BKDP Executive Committee requires the authorities to immediately put an end to the persecution, repression and reprisals against BNP members as well as to hold the guilty parties liable for their organization. We hereby warn you about the far-reaching consequences of an unfounded large-scale violations of the Constitution and laws of the country, which guarantee the inviolability of the leaders and offices of independent trade unions.

The BKDP Executive Committee will immediately inform the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which the independent trade union center is a member of, as well as the International Labour Organization (ILO) with a request to take immediate measures with respect to the authorities of the country committing another cynical violation of ILO Convention No. 87 “On Freedom of Association” ratified by the Republic of Belarus. The BKDP Executive Committee will appeal to the international trade union movement, the national trade union centers which are part of the ITUC with a request to provide solidarity support and assistance to the BKDP and its organizations in connection with the real threat of reprisals against the country’s independent trade union movement, its leaders, activists and members.

September 21, 2021

Minsk

21.09.2021