Statement on the political trials against BKDP leaders

The trial of the Belarusian trade union leaders detained in April 2022 begins today. 

Aliaksandr Yaroshuk, Siarhei Antusevich and Iryna But-Husaim are people who have devoted a huge part of their lives to improving the quality of working conditions of Belarusians and the ratification of ILO conventions by Belarus.

It is absolutely inadmissible to interpret participation in entirely peaceful demonstrations as "active participation in disturbances".  

And the accusation of "harming the national security" of the people, who have been systematically working for the benefit of the Belarusians, is purely unbelievable. 

We urge the Belarusian authorities not to jail trade unionists and thousands of other public activists who are not ashamed to speak about the problems in the society. It would be more productive to seek a way out of the crisis together with them at the negotiating table.