Union leaders in Belarus jailed – support the campaign to free them now
On 19 April, the Belarusian KGB arrested more than a dozen trade union activists, including almost all the union leaders. Among them were President of Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) Alexandr Yarashuk, vice-president Siarhei Antusevich, and the head of the Free Belarusian Trade Union Mikalaj Sharakh. One of them, the head of Free Trade Union of Metal Workers (SPM) Aliaksandr Bukhvostau, had a heart problem and was taken to the hospital. For decades the independent trade union movement in Belarus has taken a strong stand against the dictatorial regime of Alexander Lukashenko. Despite a severe political crackdown, the BKDP has openly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demanded the withdrawal of the Russian troops from the territory of Belarus. Global unions, the ...