Secretary General of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions Guy Rider demanded that Aliaxandr Lukashenka stop persecution of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union members in Hrodna Azot.

Guy Rider wrote a letter to Lukashenka, where he expressed concern over the trade union events in Belarus. The Secretary General of the ICFTU highlighted the Hrodna Azot events, which, in his opinion, are against the international principles of trade union life. The chair of the independent trade union branch in this company Siarhei Antusievich comments: “The letter by Guy Rider is evidence that the main trade union organization has shown its support. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions reminds that Belarus ratified Convention No. 87 of the International Labor Organization regarding the freedom of assembly and that one of the organizations that is a member of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, are being pressurized, which is flagrant and direct violation of this convention".
The anti-trade union actions on the part of the Hrodna Azot administration continue, says Mr. Antusievich. Today about 300 workers of the company filed applications for exiting the independent trade union, because in fact the people are getting intimidated.
Nonetheless, despite the pressure, said the trade union leader, the trade union community continues to have a membership of about 500 workers of the company, reported Radio Liberty.