Supreme Court terminates activity of five independent trade unions
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
