Independent trade union leader released after 75 days in jail

May 13, BPN. Volha Brycikava, head of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union’s cell at the Naftan oil refinery in Navapolack, Viciebsk region, has been released after spending 75 days in jail for alleged administrative offenses, the union’s press office reported.

Brycikava was convicted five times in a row in connection with protests and has served her sentences at the detention center in Ušačy, Viciebsk region.

Brycikava recorded a video after the 2020 presidential election to air the economic and political demands of Naftan’s employees. In March 2022, she recorded a video message in protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

She was arrested on the main day of voting in the constitutional referendum on February 27 at a polling station for taking a picture of her ballot. In a separate incident, she was given 15 days in jail for wearing a “No War” jacket. She was given jail terms for anti-war signs on her apartment’s windows, an anti-war post on Instagram, and for allegedly staging an unauthorized demonstration.